stevens has said he wanted the trial to move as quickly as possible so he cab "clear his name" before
the election. so, as a final "gift" the the republicans, this bomb will be going off in three or four weeks.
thanks, ted.
Jury Selection Starts In Sen. Stevens's Trial
WASHINGTON -- The public corruption trial of Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens begins in Washington this week, with the senior Republican facing charges that he accepted and concealed more than $250,000 in gifts from an Anchorage-based oil services company that benefited from his work as a senator.
Federal prosecutors allege that, in a nearly eight-year scheme, the 84-year-old Sen. Stevens received several gifts and favors from VECO Corp., including major home renovations, sweetheart car deals, furniture, tools and a gas grill.
Prosecutors have said that Sen. Stevens used his office to help VECO, though they stopped short of directly alleging that the senator traded political favors for gifts. Instead, the government's case centers on charges that Sen. Stevens didn't report the alleged gifts on his Senate financial disclosure forms.
Sen. Stevens has steadfastly maintained his innocence and his lawyers have criticized the government for bringing its case while he is seeking reelection to his eighth Senate term.
The senior senator, who has represented Alaska for 40 years, is in a tough political battle against Democratic challenger Mark Begich, the mayor of Anchorage.
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