Probe eyes money Stevens steered to research center (AP/CNN)

[eppur_se_muova]

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Justice Department officials investigating Sen. Ted Stevens are examining whether federal funds he steered to an Alaska wildlife research center may have enriched a former aide, say officials familiar with the probe.

The Commerce Department and the Interior Department's inspector general are assisting in looking at how millions of dollars that Stevens, R-Alaska, obtained for the nonprofit Alaska SeaLife Center were spent, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the investigation's sensitivity.

The SeaLife Center probe is in addition to an investigation by federal grand juries here and in Alaska into Stevens' ties to an oil company executive convicted of bribing Alaska state legislators.

The FBI on Monday raided Stevens' home in Girdwood, Alaska, in connection with that grand jury probe, which is focused on Stevens' dealings with oil field services contractor Bill Allen.

Last year, FBI raids on the offices of several Alaska lawmakers included Stevens' son, former Alaska Senate President Ben Stevens. Neither the U.S. senator nor his son has been charged, and the elder Stevens has denied any wrongdoing.
***
more: http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/08/01/stevens.investigation.ap/index.html