An FBI agent spent all day on the witness stand today at the bribery and conspiracy trial of former state Representative Pete Kott. Special Agent Steve Dunphy was part of the crew that bugged Suite 604 of the Baranof Hotel in Juneau and recorded the phone conversations between Kott and Veco executives Bill Allen and Rick Smith that make up the bulk of the government’s charges against him.
The jury has now heard many of the recordings in which Kott says such things as “I sold my soul to the devil.” and “I had to cheat, steal, beg, borrow and lie.” And Allen such things as “I own your ass.” The defense has yet to cross examine Agent Dunphy and is still fighting to keep some of the recordings from being played.
David Shurtleff and Steve Heimel, APRN – Anchorage
