Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska, the longest-serving Republican in the Senate’s history and a figure of enormous influence in his state, was found guilty on Monday of violating ethics laws for failing to report gifts and services that he was given by friends.
A federal jury of eight women and four men from the District of Columbia found that the 84-year-old Mr. Stevens, who has represented Alaska in the Senate for more than 40 years, knowingly failed to list on Senate disclosure forms the receipt of several gifts and tens of thousands of dollars worth of remodeling work on his home in Girdwood, Alaska.
The verdict came just eight days before the senator is to face re-election and after more than three weeks of testimony, the highlight of which was Mr. Stevens making the calculated risk of taking the witness stand in his own defense. As the verdict was announced, the senator remained composed and stared at the ceiling while his lawyer, Brendan Sullivan, put his arm around him.
Just before the trial, the senator sounded defiant. “Put this down,” he told reporters. “I am not stepping down. I’m going to run through, and I’m going to win this election.” He did not signal whether the verdict had softened his stance, but he was heard to tell his wife, Catherine, afterward, “It’s not over yet”…
And Stevens was already in trouble in the polls:
| Pollster | Dates | Stevens | Begich | Bird | Haase | Other | Und. | Margin |
| Ivan Moore | 10/17-19/08 | 45 | 46 | – | – | – | – | +1D |
| DailyKos.com | 10/14-16/08 | 46 | 48 | – | – | – | 6 | +2D |
| Rasmussen | 10/6/08 | 49 | 48 | – | – | – | 3 | +1R |
| Ivan Moore | 10/3-6/08 | 45 | 49 | – | – | – | – | +4D |
| Ivan Moore | 9/20-22/08 | 46 | 48 | – | – | – | – | +2D |
| Fairleigh Dickinson | 9/17-21/08 | 43 | 47 | – | – | 4 | 5 | +4D |
| DailyKos.com | 9/15-17/08 | 44 | 50 | – | – | – | 6 | +6D |
| Rasmussen | 9/9/08 | 46 | 48 | – | – | 2 | 3 | +2D |
| Moore Information | 9/2-3/08 | 46 | 44 | – | – | – | – | +2R |
| Ivan Moore | 8/30-9/2/08 | 46 | 49 | 2 | 0 | – | 3 | +3D |
Interesting discussion going on in the blogosphere. Stephens is a convicted felon, but that does not bar him from serving in the Senate unless the Senate takes separate to expel him.
A convicted felon loses his right to vote, until his sentence, probation period, etc. has been completed. Then he may be reinstated.
Questioni: If he cannot vote in elections, can he still vote in the Senate on legislation?
I don’t mean to sound like I don’t enjoy the posts (because I do), but aren’t you supposed to be relaxing and having fun with Sharon on your cruise?
We’re back and I’m afraid that my next 8 days are going to be spent right here with obsessive reading [and my fingers crossed]. It was one fine cruise…