There goes a Senate seat.
Sen. Ted Stevens guilty of all 7 felony charges
By Manu Raju
Posted: 10/27/08 04:02 PM [ET]
Ted Stevens, the longest-serving Republican senator in history and patriarch of Alaska politics, was convicted Monday of all seven felony charges for making false statements.
The verdict could spell an ignominious end to the political career of a man who rose to be one of the most dominant figures in the Senate and helped transform Alaska in its 50 years of statehood.
Jurors deliberated from scratch Monday morning with the addition of an alternate juror, and in little more than five hours delivered a unanimous verdict on all counts. The verdict comes just eight days before Stevens faces the toughest reelection bid of his four-decade career.
Shortly before 4 p.m., the jury convicted the 84-year-old senator for making false statements by failing to report more than $250,000 in gifts from Bill Allen, the former head of Veco Corp., and other friends.
In a packed courtroom, Stevens appeared expressionless, holding his stomach while the verdict was read. The courtroom was silent as the powerful Republican's fate was read to the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The senator left the courtroom without taking questions and was shuttled into a white van waiting for him and his team of attorneys.
A defiant Stevens released a statement later Monday, saying that he was "obviously disappointed in the verdict but not surprised given the repeated instances of prosecutorial misconduct in this case."
The senator vowed to "fight this unjust verdict with every ounce of energy I have" and said he would return home to defend his seat.
"I am innocent. This verdict is the result of the unconscionable manner in which the Justice Department lawyers conducted this trial," Stevens added. "I ask that Alaskans and my Senate colleagues stand with me as I pursue my rights. I remain a candidate for the United States Senate. I will come home on Wednesday and ask for your vote."
"This company, the evidence showed, was not a charity," said Matthew Friedrich, assistant attorney general for the criminal division at the Justice Department, referring to Veco Corp.
"This has been a long and hard-fought trial," Friedrich told reporters, without taking questions.
Judge Emmet G. Sullivan deferred sentencing until after Feb. 25, when a hearing is scheduled on further motions. Stevens faces up to five years in prison on each count.
The jury did not seem to buy the explanation from Stevens that Allen showered him with gifts he didn't want and was unaware of, and that he believed the $160,000 he gave to another contractor covered all costs for the home renovations.
Jurors said they would not talk to the press.
Senate Republicans already stripped Stevens of his leadership positions when he was indicted in July. Under GOP rules, any indicted senator must be removed temporarily from their positions and permanently if convicted. Stevens was ranking member on the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee and on the Appropriations Defense subcommittee.
The Alaska Democratic Party on Monday called for Stevens to resign after hearing the verdict.? Patti Higgins, chairwoman of the state party, said in an e-mail that the convictions are "very serious and he should resign immediately from the United States Senate."
"He knew what he was doing was wrong, but he did it anyway and lied to Alaskans about it," Higgins said. "Alaskans deserve better from their public officials. It's time for us to elect an ethical and honest senator who will move this state forward."
Stevens is still on the ballot against Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich (D), and observers will be watching to see what he does before Election Day.
A spokeswoman for Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, the Republican vice presidential nominee, said the governor would likely release a statement through the governor's office, but a Palin aide in the governor's office in Juneau said she was unsure if that release was forthcoming.
thehill.com |
