Draft:List of

List of Alaska political scandals

This article provides a list of political scandals which occurred in the State of Alabama. It is organized in reverse chronological order from most recent to oldest.

Politician is defined as "a person who is professionally involved in politics", and includes not only those elected to office, their staffs and appointees, but also those who routinely work in politics such as pollsters. Major officials of political parties and their staffs, as well as those elected by their party to be candidates are also included. Local politicians, mayors, sheriffs, and county officials should not be included.

Scandal is defined as "loss of, or damage to, reputation caused by actual or apparent violation of morality or propriety". Breaking the law is always considered a scandal. The finding of a public court is the sole method used to determine a violation of law, but it is not the sole method of determining a scandal.

Please note that all people are considered innocent until proven guilty. Allegations of misconduct do not imply guilt nor do admissions of guilt in the absence of a conviction. Investigations that end without a determination do not imply innocence.

Breaches of ethics, unproven crimes or cover-ups may or may not result in inclusion depending on the amount of publicity generated, and the seriousness of the crime, if any. Notoriety and notability are a major determinant of a scandal. Politicians who resign, quit, flee, or commit suicide while being investigated or threatened with investigation may also be included.

Different scandals on different dates may result in multiple listings.

The list does not include crimes that occur outside the politician's tenure (such as before or after his term in office) unless they specifically stem from acts made while in office, such as bribery, and discovered later.

Given the political nature of legislatures where the leading party has determining power, politicians who are Rebuked, Denounced, Censured, Admonished, Condemned, Suspended, Reprimanded, Found in Contempt, Found to have Acted Improperly, or of using Poor Judgment are not included unless the scandal is exceptional or leads to further action such as expulsion, conviction or resignation.

Executive pardons may or may not be mentioned, but do not erase the scandal. The verdict and legal proceedings are not affected by pardons, but may affect the sentence.

State of Alaska

• Kevin Clarkson (R) State Attorney General had sent hundreds of text messages with kiss emojis, dinner invitations and other overtures to a younger, female state employee. When asked to desist, he continued. When made public, he resigned his position. (2021)[34][35]
• Zach Fansler (D) State Representative from Bethel in the 38th District, was accused of slapping a woman hard enough to rupture her eardrum during a sexual encounter. He apologized and then resigned. He pled guilty to misdemeanor harassment and was sentenced to 10 days in jail (suspended), one year probation, 80 hours of community service and alcohol treatment. (2018)[36][37]
• Dean Westlake (D) State Representative from Kotzebue in the 40th District, was accused by multiple female staffers of inappropriate sexual behavior. Westlake apologized and resigned. (2017)[38][39]
• Byron Mallott (D) Lt. Governor, from Juneau, abruptly resigned after making unspecified ‘inappropriate comments’ to a woman, who he refused to identify. (2018)[40][41]
• National Guard Sexual Harassment Scandal concerns multiple charges of sex abuse within the ranks of the Alaska National Guard, and its failure to investigate or address those complaints. Twenty nine women soldiers were allegedly raped. Eventually, Governor Sean Parnell (R) and Commander in Chief of the Alaska National Guard, asked for the resignations of several top officials. (2010)[42][43]

1. Thomas Katkus ( ) Major General, was appointed by Republican Governor Sean Parnell to Command the Alaska State National Guard. He resigned due to his handling of the National Guard Sexual Harassment Scandal. (2014)[44][45]
2. McHugh Pierre (R) Deputy Commissioner for the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and aide to Thomas Katkus, resigned due to his role in the National Guard Sexual Harassment scandal. (2014)[46][47]

• Alaska political corruption probe, refers to an investigation into bribery in the Alaskan legislature. It includes the activities of VECO Corporation, an oil pipeline service and construction company, whose Chief Executive of Operations Bill Allen (businessman, born 1937) and Vice President Rick Smith pled guilty to federal charges of extortion, bribery, and conspiracy to influence politicians. Four lobbyists were also convicted, as well as State Representatives Tom Anderson (politician) (R), Pete Kott (R), Vic Kohring (R), Beverly Masek (R), and State Senator John Cowdery (R). See also Corrupt Bastards Club and VECO Corporation. (2006)[48][49]

1. Tom Anderson (politician) (R) State Representative from Wasilla in District 19, was accused of felony counts of extortion, bribery, conspiracy, and money laundering by accepting bribes from Cornell Industries, a private prison firm. He was found guilty and sentenced to a term of 60 months in prison. (2006)[50]
2. Pete Kott (R) State Representative from Eagle River in District 17, was found guilty of three counts of bribery and fraud in the VECO Corporation oil services company investigation. Though he was originally sentenced to six years, in a plea deal he was sentenced to time served, followed by three years’ of supervised release and fined $10,000. (2006)[51][52]
3. Vic Kohring (R) State Representative, from Wasilla in District 14, was convicted of three counts of bribery, conspiracy and attempted extortion from the VECO Corporation an oil services company. He was sentenced to three and a half years in prison. In a plea agreement, he was released early. (2006)[53][54]
4. Beverly Masek (R) State Representative from Willow, was accused of accepting a $2,000 bribe from VECO Corporation. She pled guilty to conspiracy for soliciting bribes to kill a bill that would have raised oil production taxes. She was sentenced to six months in prison with three years probation. (2006)[55][56]
5. John Cowdery (R) State Senator from Anchorage of O District, pled guilty to conspiracy to commit bribery with the VECO Corporation oil services company. He was sentenced to six months' house arrest, three years probation and a $25,000 fine. (2006)[57][58]

• Scott Ogan (R) State Senator from District H, resigned one day after losing a legal bid to stop a recall action by Matanuska-Susitna Borough residents who claimed he used his legislative position to overly promote his former employer, Evergreen Resources Inc. (2004)[59][60]