AK-AL: Rep. Young caught in corruption probe

Another corrupt Republican:

Rep. Don Young of Alaska, the former chairman of the House Transportation Committee, now is the subject of a continuing criminal inquiry involving possible political favors for a company in Alaska, people close to the case said. Sen. Ted Stevens of Alaska, the powerful former chairman of the Appropriations Committee and the longest-serving Senate Republican, is also now under criminal investigation, these people said.

Federal investigators are examining whether Rep. Young or Sen. Stevens accepted bribes, illegal gratuities or unreported gifts from VECO Corp., Alaska's largest oil-field engineering firm, people close to the case said [...]

Mr. Young has hired a criminal-defense team and has said his campaign committee has paid $262,000 in legal fees in the past three months. A spokesman for Mr. Young declined to comment on any possible investigation and wouldn't say why his legal fees have risen sharply. Mr. Young has also faced questions about campaign donations received from convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff. The congressman wasn't previously reported to be under criminal investigation.