Former Alaska lawmaker guilty of bribery

Former Alaska lawmaker Pete Kott was convicted Tuesday of trading his legislative influence for bribes from an oil field services company that sought to profit from a proposed multibillion-dollar pipeline.

Kott, who served as speaker of the House for part of his 14-year tenure, was convicted of conspiracy to solicit financial benefits, extortion and bribery. He was acquitted of wire fraud.

Kott was charged with accepting nearly $9,000, campaign services and the promise of a job from VECO Corp., which stood to make millions if a more than $20 billion natural gas pipeline were built.

The two-week trial carried wider implications, including testimony from VECO chief Bill Allen that he doled out more than $400,000 in bribes to various officials and had company workers remodel the home of Sen. Ted Stevens.

The FBI raided Stevens' home in July. Stevens has said he paid all bills he received for the remodeling project, which more than doubled the size of the home.

Allen and a company vice president, Rick Smith, have pleaded guilty to bribing Kott and other lawmakers.

Prosecutors played recordings from wiretaps and a video camera planted in a Juneau hotel room rented by VECO. The recordings show Kott, Allen and Smith speaking in off-color language, often while drinking, tracking votes on the proposed oil tax and plotting strategy.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) _ Former Alaska lawmaker Pete Kott, accused of trading his legislative influence for bribes, was convicted Tuesday of corruption charges.

Kott, who served as speaker of the House, was convicted of conspiracy to solicit financial benefits, extortion and bribery. He was acquitted of wire fraud.

The case spotlighted Kott's dealings with VECO Corp., which stood to make millions if a more than $20 billion natural gas pipeline were built.

The two-week trial carried wider implications, including testimony from VECO chief Bill Allen that he doled out more than $400,000 in bribes to various officials and had company workers remodel the home of Sen. Ted Stevens.