1999: This Could Be The Beginning Of A Beautiful Friendship

Sen. Ted Stevens mentions to his friend, VECO CEO Bill Allen, that his daughter could use a new car. This results in a car exchange - Bill Allen gives Stevens a new Land Rover worth $44,000 and Stevens gives Allen a 1964 Ford worth less than $20,000. Allen's company, VECO, is an "Anchorage-based oil field services and construction company whose executives are major contributors to political campaigns," according to the AP. VECO is one of Ted's biggest campaign contributors.

2000: Construction Begins On Ted Stevens' Girdwood Home

Stevens hires VECO, the corrupt oil company, to renovate his house. VECO, prosecutors later point out "was not in the business of residential construction or remodeling." Stevens' note to Allen sums it up beautifully. "We've never worked with a man so easy to get along with as [a VECO employee], Plus, everyone who's seen the place wants to know who has done the things he's done. . . . we are really pleased with all you have done. hope to see you and the chalet soon. best teds." Allen also provides furnishings. Like a brand new Viking gas grill.

2002: The Construction Project Gets More Elaborate

VECO continues work on the outside of Stevens' Girdwood home. Ted gets a first-floor wraparound deck, a plastic roof between the first and second floor decks, and a lighting system - all coming to a total worth of $55,000.

2004: The Kitchen Sink

Bill Allen and VECO give Ted some kitchen supplies.

2006: So Just Call Out My Name, And You Know, Wherever I Am...

Stevens calls Bill Allen to ask him to fix his boiler system.

8/30/06: The First Raid

The FBI raids the office of Alaskan State Sen. Ben Stevens (R), Ted's son. Investigators were looking for evidence of any ties ("financial information and gifts") between the lawmakers and VECO Corp. Five other legislators' offices were raided in the same sweep, as part of a wider ranging probe of corruption in Alaskan politics.

Fall, 2006: After The First Raid, Bill And Ted Get A Little Nervous

Stevens and Allen discuss the possibility that the FBI have tapped their phones. (They have.)
"I think they're probably listening to this conversation right now," Stevens tells Allen says in one of the recordings.
"We might have to pay a fine and spend a little time in jail," he continues. "I hope it doesn't come to that."

5/7/07: CEO Allen To Alaskan Legislator: "I Own Your Ass."

Former VECO CEO Allen and other VECO executives plead guilty to bribing at least four legislators. The legislators include Ben Stevens, whose company allegedly received $243,250 for consulting fees that were "in fact for the purpose of obtaining Ben Stevens' official support on matters pending before the Alaska State Legislature."

6/7/07: Stevens: I've Hired Laywers, Yes

Ted admits that he is being investigated by the FBI, though declines to say why.

6/17/07: Sen. Ted Stevens Asks For An Extension On Date To File Financial Disclosure Forms.

Knowingly filing false disclosure forms is a federal crime. Just ask Randy "Duke" Cunningham (R-Calif.) and Robert W. Ney (R-Ohio), both of whom filed falsely and are now in prison.

7/30/07:The Second Raid

The FBI raids Sen. Ted Stevens' renovated Girdwood home.

7/31/07: Things Get Serious

The FBI announces that Ted Stevens is officially under investigation for more than just his ties to VECO. The FBI and the Department of the Interior are looking into $50 million in earmarks for the Alaska SeaLife Center. Under particular scrutiny is the $558,000 of that that went to former aide Trevor McCabe in exchange for land adjacent to the center.

8/16/07:FBI Investigates More Money Given To VECO For Something Else It Has No Expertise In: Polar And Arctic Research

The FBI reveals it is investigating the VECO won federal contracts worth $170 million. The contracts to provide the National Science Foundation with polar and arctic research support were given to VECO, despite the company having no experience in the field.

9/14/2007: Allen: "I Gave Ted Some Old Furniture"

Former VECO CEO Bill Allen admits to supervising the remodeling of Sen. Ted Stevens' Girdwood home during the trial of Alaskan State Rep. Pete Kott. Allen testifies that he paid for some of the Senator's remodeling and had VECO employees working on the project.

9/21/07:They've Been Listening

It is revealed that the FBI has indeed been listening in on phone calls between Sen. Ted Stevens and former VECO CEO Bill Allen.

7/29/08: Stevens: I Am Innocent Of These Charges And Intend To Prove That

Sen. Ted Stevens is indicted on seven counts of false statements. Stevens declares his innocence in a statement on the indictment and resigns his positions on two committees.

8/2/08: Just Some Old Furniture!

Ted on his indictment: "This is an indictment for failure to disclose gifts that are controversial in terms of whether they were or were not gifts. It's not bribery; it's not some corruption; it's not some extreme felony."

8/4/08:Stevens: Let My Senate Campaign Continue!

Stevens tries to get trial moved from Washington, D.C. to Alaska to allow for nighttime campaigning in his Senate reelection race against Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich (D).

8/20/08:Denied.

Steven's motion to move trial to Alaska denied

9/3/08: Uncle Ted's First Attempt To Throw Out Trial

Speech-or-debate clause edition.

9/9/08: Second Attempt To Throw Out Trial

Speech-or-debate clause: The Sequel.

9/10/08: Attempt #1 denied

9/17/08: Attempt #2 denied

9/23/08: Operation Discredit Bill Allen Begins

The former VECO CEO is the key witness in Stevens' trial, so to kick it off Stevens' defense claims that Allen is being paid $40 million to cooperate.

10/1/08: I Just Don't Know How To Quit You

Key witness for the prosecution, Bill Allen, takes the stand. Allen described both his financial and personal relationship with Sen. Stevens, confessing at one point: "We really like each other, you know? Ted really worked hard. Ted loved Alaska and I loved Alaska."

10/2/08: Ted's Third Attempt To Throw Out Trial

Prosecution fails to turn over evidence and the trial is suspended edition.

10/2/08: Uh-Uh!

Attempt #3 denied. Trial resumes.

10/17/08: My Wife Did It!

Sen. Ted Stevens on day one of the trial: "What goes on in the house is Catherine's business; what goes on outside is my business."

10/20/08: All Your Chairs Are Belong To Us

Ted on the stand, day two: "[Bill Allen] bought that chair as a gift, but I refused it as a gift. He put it there and said it was my chair. I told him I would not accept it as a gift. We have lots of things in our house that don't belong to us."

10/27/08: Til The Fat Lady Sings

Sen. Ted Stevens is found guilty on all counts of making false statements on his financial disclosure forms. With the conviction, Stevens becomes one of only five sitting senators to be convicted of a crime. Ted vows, "It's not over yet."

10/31/08: Not Looking Good For Uncle Ted

Post-conviction polls just days before the election show Stevens losing to Democrat Mark Begich by large margins.

11/5/08: The Stevens Effect

Stevens confounds pollsters and common sense by coming out on top after election day. The Stevens Effect is born: "An unwillingness of poll respondents to admit to a pollster that they're going to vote for the convicted felon." However, there are still more votes to be counted.

11/12/08: Pulling Ahead...

Mark Begich takes the lead - first by three votes, later by 814.

11/18/08: Happy Birthday Uncle Ted

On his 85th birthday, The Associated Press calls the race for Mark Begich. Other news sources follow.

11/19/2008: 'It was a tough fight'

Stevens officially concedes.

11/20/2008: So Long, Farewell

Stevens delivers his Senate swansong . "My motto has always been: 'To hell with politics. Just do what's right for Alaska.'"

04/01/09: Vindicated At Last

The Justice Department drops all charges against Stevens due to prosecutorial misconduct. In a statement, Stevens said "I always knew that there would be a day when the cloud that surrounded me would be removed. That day has finally come."

Header images: wdcpix.com