WASHINGTON _ Alaska Sen.

To: POLITICAL EDITORS Contact: U.S. Department of Justice, +1-202-514-2007, +1-202-514- 1888 (TDD) WASHINGTON, July 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- United States Senator Theodore F.

By DAN JOLING ANCHORAGE, Alaska - A federal jury convicted a former Alaska lawmaker Thursday of corruption charges involving tax protections sought by oil companies as part of plans for a multibillion-dollar natural gas pipeline. Ex-state Rep.

Prosecutors are looking into illegal ties between U.S. oil producers and Veco Corp. Alaska oil services executives, a published report said Tuesday. Through wiretaps and other evidence, investigators are probing the relationship BP PLC, ConocoPhillips Co. and ExxonMobil Corp.

By DAN JOLING ANCHORAGE, Alaska - A former state legislator's conviction for taking bribes from an oil services firm has wider implications: the FBI is investigating whether Ted Stevens, the U.S. Senate's longest-serving Republican, also received illegal gifts from the same company. Former Rep.