Bill Allen, the former Veco Corp. executive who pleaded guilty to bribing Alaska lawmakers, has hired a former U.S. deputy attorney general to represent him. George Terwilliger III, a partner at White & Case LLP in Washington, D.C., filed a motion today in Anchorage's federal court requesting he be allowed to appear in court representing Allen, who has been cooperating in the government's public corruption investigation.

In a phone interview with Alaska Dispatch today, Terwilliger said he's been working for Allen for "some time." He declined to comment on Allen's case and the government's recent problems in the trials of Ted Stevens, Vic Kohring and Pete Kott.

According to his Wikipedia entry, Terwilliger "was nominated February 14, 1992, by President George H.W. Bush to be Deputy Attorney General at the U.S. Department of Justice. ... As Deputy Attorney General, Terwilliger became the second-highest ranking official in the United States Department of Justice and ran the day-to-day operations of the Department, serving in that position from 1991 through 1993."

Wikipedia also says that, "During the Florida 2000 election recount, Terwilliger led Republican President-elect George W. Bush's legal team and was 'an advisor to the Bush-Cheney Transition and counselor to designated cabinet and other prospective appointees.'"

Anchorage lawyer Bob Bundy, who has represented Bill Allen since 2006, is a former U.S. Attorney for Alaska. He will continue representing Allen as well, Terwilliger said.

Today is a big day for Allen. Federal prosecutors must file an update with U.S. District Judge John Sedwick on whether they still need Allen's assistance in their corruption investigation, or if Allen should be scheduled for sentencing.

Allen pleaded guilty to federal bribery charges in 2007, agreeing to help the feds in exchange for a possibly reduced prison sentence, a promise that his three adult children would not be charged with crimes arising from the probe, and that he be allowed to sell his oil-contracting firm Veco.

Allen's role as key government witness was tainted in recent months as former U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens' conviction was tossed over prosecutorial mistakes and possible misconduct. Prosecutors withheld government interviews with Allen from Stevens' lawyers, as well former state Reps. Vic Kohring and Pete Kott. That evidence, according to the former lawmakers' lawyers, could have helped them in their trials.