Murkowski Questions Attorney General About Bill Allen Sexual Abuse Case

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) asked the U.S. Attorney General Thursday why the Justice Department hasn't prosecuted former-VECO CEO Bill Allen on allegations of child sexual abuse.

The Justice Department used the Allen as a key witness in several corruption cases including the trial for former-Sen. Ted Stevens.

Police say Allen solicited sex from a 15-year-old girl on multiple occasions.

Murkowski says it seems prosecutors didn't seek an indictment because Allen cooperated in other cases.

The senator told Attorney General Eric Holder their failure to prosecute gives the impression that with the right political connections it's all right to break the law.

“Do you think I would be out of line if I were to ask the office of the inspector general and the office of professional responsibility to examine the department's handling in the Bill Allen case?” Murkowski said.

“That would certainly be within your discretion to do that. I don't think that's necessarily warranted on the basis of the decision here. I'm confident all these decision were made based on the appropriate guidelines,” said Holder in response to Murkowski’s question.

Holder told Murkowski his department considered several factors before declining prosecution, saying it had nothing to do with Allen's cooperation in other cases.

Allen pleaded guilty to multiple bribery and extortion offenses in 2007 and is now serving time for those crimes.