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HOH’s One-Minute Recess: A Fishy Business

Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s former fisheries aide, Arne Fuglvog, pleaded guilty Thursday for violating — wait for it! — fishing regulations.

Fuglvog resigned from his position with the Republican’s office July 31, several days before the story broke Aug. 3.

“Prior to joining my staff, Arne Fuglvog violated a fishing regulation by misstating the location where he caught sablefish,” Murkowski said in a statement. (Fuglvog was a commercial fisherman before he joined her staff in 2006.)

Well … OK, but according to the Anchorage Daily News, Fuglvog “falsified catch records,” which might technically be “misstating” but is probably worse than that.

At least we assume so because the plea deal that he signed April 8 sentences him to 10 months in prison and $150,000 in fines.

“Arne has cooperated fully with the authorities,” Murkowski continued in the statement. “He has taken responsibility for his actions, and accepted the consequences.”

Fuglvog might still be cooperating with authorities. The Anchorage Daily News reported Thursday that Fuglvog might be feeding information to the prosecution in an effort to get his sentence reduced.

It is unclear when Murkowski learned of the charges filed against her former aide, but if the plea deal was signed in April, Fuglvog must have known for at least three months before tendering his resignation.

The Alaska Dispatch reports that Fuglvog most likely stopped his illegal practices prior to working for Murkowski, but not that far in advance. Charges of repeated violations stretch from 2001 to 2006, when Fuglvog came to Washington.

Requests for comment from Murkowski’s office have not been returned.

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