Stevens Corruption Trial Will Continue

Judge Rejects Mistrial Request From Alaska Senator's Lawyers, But Will Instruct Jury To Disregard Some Evidence

(CBS/AP)  A federal judge has refused to declare a mistrial in the corruption case against Sen. Ted Stevens.

Shortly after the government concluded its case Wednesday against the veteran Alaska lawmaker, U.S. District Judge Emmet G. Sullivan heard defense attorneys argue again that prosecutors violated rules of evidence by intentionally withholding information that would help the defense.

Prosecutors insisted they had followed the rules.

When the trial resumes tomorrow morning CBS News Producer Stephanie Lambidakis reports that the judge will tell the jury to disregard some of the prosecution's evidence against Stevens and remind them that the "government presented evidence that it knew wasn't true."

Last week, the judge publicly berated prosecutors after they acknowledged not turning over some information to Stevens' lawyers, saying it was withheld accidentally.

Now that Sullivan has decided to allow the trial to continue, the defense says former Secretary of State Colin Powell and Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii, would be among the first witnesses to testify.

Stevens, 84, is accused of lying on Senate forms to conceal more than $250,000 in renovations on his cabin and other gifts from Bill Allen, the former chief of a giant oil pipeline company, VECO Corp. Prosecutors called an FBI agent as their last witness Wednesday to introduce e-mails about the home improvements.

In e-mails from 2000 and 2001, a neighbor gave Stevens regular progress reports on a project that turned a modest backwoods A-frame into a two-story home with a new roof, hardwood floors, wraparound decks, a sauna and a garage.

"We look forward to seeing the house," Stevens wrote back, referring to his wife, Catherine. "I guess we can't call it a chalet anymore."

The neighbor, Bob Persons, credited an employee of VECO Corp. with doing the bulk of the work, and the senator occasionally asked for invoices.

"Don't forget, we need a bill," he e-mailed Allen at one point.

Prosecutors also introduced financial disclosure forms from the same period that required Stevens to report gifts to himself or immediate family. The senator listed items like a gold coin worth $1,100 and a sled dog valued at $250 but didn't mention VECO or the cabin project.

Allen, who's cooperating under a plea deal, testified that he couldn't bring himself to charge his close friend for the costs, and that the senator never paid him. The jury heard secretly recorded phone conversations in which the pair discussed how to fend off the FBI.

The corruption investigation has rattled Alaska politics, turning prominent state lawmakers into convicted felons and making Stevens vulnerable to a Democratic challenge for his Senate seat in the Nov. 4 election.

[gabby1939]

I would like just once to have a politician say yes I am guilty. So far everyone is inocent and most have been proven guilty

[bm6005]

Hang ''em, hang ''em high!!! I don''t care what party he belongs to!

[runningralph]

Politicians who take an oath of office should be tried the same way as a soldier who takes an oath. If they betray the country they should be tried for treason. Treason is a capital offense.

[ray999999]

all politicians are crooks just some get caught with there fingers in the cookie jar.and the idiots keep voting them in office.

[bm6005]

Do you libs REALLY want to go there?
Posted by Xlib

You are hilarious, you remind me of a reformed alcholic or other drug addict!!

[irmcvet97]

Speaking of "pardons". Has any president pardoned more sleaz, including his own brother-in-law and let''''s not forget mr rich? Doubt it.
Hey, maybe stevens can go to Switzerland with a ton of cash and live with marc rich,
Do you libs REALLY want to go there?

Posted by Xlib at 07:19 AM : Oct 09, 2008


What are you babbling about? You losers have been making excuses so long and for so many that you aren''t making any sense anymore.

[omnibus66]

Don''t you just love those Alaskan small town values? Lies, corruption, back-door deals, ignoring subpoenas and laws.

Son of a gun (wink,wink), sounds just like Republican large town values.

[xlib]

Speaking of "pardons". Has any president pardoned more sleaz, including his own brother-in-law and let''s not forget mr rich? Doubt it.
Hey, maybe stevens can go to Switzerland with a ton of cash and live with marc rich,
Do you libs REALLY want to go there?

[xlib]

Bet they could fit in two more in that trial. I say send queen nance and ole charlie rangel to Alaska.
I keep forgetting, it''s only corruption if it''s a Republican. If it''s a dem why, "they just didn''t know......" Fill in the blank.
Giving money from a pac to her hubby''s busines, no problem.
Keeping vacation homes and not paying taxes, no problem. Using rent controlled property for your
own use,no problem.

[ddaymichael]

If Stevens is found guilty, and that is by no means a certainty in this corrupt, sleazy legal climate,I think he should receive a pardon from Bush...and then Bush should serve out his sentance.

Now for Cheney, we need a condemned mass murdering degenerate to pardon...

[tryhonesty]

Another RepubliCON CROOK! from a long list of RepubliCONs taking America for a ride. The only thing missing from the RED RepubliCON banner is the sickle and the hammer!

[highlander60]

lets sweep out all and start fresh with the constitution

[babooph]

Another "tough on criminals" crying for no trial for himself-he only wants the poor & middle class in prison-he should be allowed all crime for HIS CLASS!!

[caldwellptr]

Dear Senator Stevens, Why the other folks here may not have anything nice to say about you, I think you are great! Could you please send an Oil company to build me a modest home. It doesn''t need to be a as costly as the one you got, maybe $75 or $80 thousand. And thank you for all you have done for Alaska and the United States. Sincerely, XOXO
P.S. I understand Exxon or Shell is building very nice homes these days if Veco is no longer available.

[mcv57]

The whole financial system is clogged solid with governmental and corporate corruption. Unless Paulson decides to use the 700 billion to finance a national raid of corruption to reimburse the taxpaper and throw these crimminals in jail, the pro-up bail-out scam will just reward these SOBs.

[benighse]

MAYBE SEN. TED STEVENS CAN SPEND SOME WIDE STANCE TIME WITH SEN. LARRY CRAIG!

[benighse]

SARAH PALIN SAYS: "PLEASE HELP MY GOOD FRIEND, SENATOR TED STEVENS.....I RAN HIS ETHICS IN GOVERNMENT PROGRAM, AND WE NEED TO RETAIN HIM IN THE SENATE FOR MY NEXT BRIDGE TO NOWHERE....WE MUST SAVE THIS DINOSAUR WHO WALKED WITH OTHER PENTACOSTAL CAVEMEN BEFORE END OF DAYS....A LITTLE EXORCISM FROM MY MINISTER MUTHEE CAN STILL CURE MY SENATOR." ----SILLY SARAH

[downtowner97]

Let''s hope the jury does what OJ''s jury did and prosecutes him for his explanation of how the internet works.

[smurfcrusher]

If only they could convict him AFTER Bush leaves office.

Otherwise Bush may feel a kinship to this schmuck and pardon him.

[lawyertom1]

Of course it will continue. His own words signed his death warrant. Hope he enjoys the pen.