FBI Taped Senator's Phone Calls in Corruption Probe

The FBI secretly taped phone calls between Alaska Senator Ted Stevens and an oil businessman during an investigation into contract corruption, according to sources. The oil contractor agreed to the tapings last year after he was confronted with evidence that he had bribed other Alaska lawmakers, AP reports. Stevens acknowledged only months ago that he was the target of a corruption probe.

The contractor has pleaded guilty to bribery, and is a key witness against several Alaska legislators. He told investigators he paid his employees to renovate Stevens' house, although the senator insists he paid every bill he received in the remodeling project that doubled the size of his home. Allen has also said he paid his workers to organize fundraisers for Steven, possibly in violation of campaign finance laws. (More Ted Stevens stories.)