Interior Dept IG Probing Fed Funds for Uncle Ted FundraiserAs generous as Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK) is with earmarks, it’s natural for beneficiaries to occasionally get carried away with their gratitude. From Roll Call (sub. req.):
The Interior Department inspector general has opened an investigation into whether federal money was inappropriately used to pay for a celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Alaska Volcano Observatory that recognized its chief patron, Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), according to information obtained by Roll Call.Sources say the IG is looking into the funding behind the event at the Russell Senate Office Building….
At issue is whether federal dollars were used in connection with a lobbying event. Federal law prohibits the use of federal funds for such an activity, either directly through the Geological Survey or indirectly through the observatory, which receives much of its funding from Stevens’ earmarks….
The April 2 event was an “education opportunity and event,” [lobbyist Martha Stewart] said, adding that the sponsors also used it as a chance to offer Stevens a “thank you” for his work.
Of course, with a federal grand jury digging into Uncle Ted’s ties to Veco, this is the least of his worries.