Stevens: "Sinister" Sen. Or "Simple" Guy?

Prosecutors, Defense Make Closing Arguments In Alaska Lawmaker's Corruption Trial

(AP)  Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens is an honorable, trusting man who was taken advantage of by a corrupt friend who provided expensive gifts, not the architect of a "master cover-up by a sinister senator," as portrayed by prosecutors at his corruption trial, his lawyer argued Tuesday.

The Justice Department is trying to twist skimpy evidence to make it seem that Stevens is a "mastermind of a conspiracy," instead of a respected World War II veteran whose Senate work kept him so busy he trusted others to renovate his remote Alaska cabin, famed defense lawyer Brendan Sullivan said.

"We're trying to convict an innocent man in this courtroom on an interpretation of evidence so far from real life it should make you sick," he told jurors.

The 84-year-old Stevens, the Senate's longest-serving Republican senator, is charged with lying on Senate financial disclosure forms about $250,000 in home renovations and other gifts he received from his friend, millionaire Bill Allen, who runs oil services company VECO Corp.

Stevens testified for three days and said he never asked for the rope lighting, furniture, gas grill, fully stocked tool chest or other items that kept appearing at his house.

He said he repeatedly pressed Allen to remove the unwanted items, and asked him frequently for bills for the renovation work that changed the modest A-frame cabin into a two-story home with wraparound decks, new electricity and plumbing, a sauna and a master-bedroom balcony.

"He's a very simple guy," Sullivan said. "He asked for no gifts, and he's got some guy foisting things" on him.

Prosecutors ridiculed Stevens' explanation as "nonsense" in their closing statements.

Prosecutor Joseph Bottini told jurors that Stevens surrounded himself with wealthy, generous friends who could be counted on to give gifts and who could be trusted to keep it quiet.

"Does anybody really believe that the defendant really can't get Bill Allen to stop giving him all this free stuff?" Bottini asked.

Bottini repeatedly questioned Stevens' credibility and remarked that he looked uncomfortable answering questions on the witness stand.

In particular, Bottini seized on an awkward exchange that occurred Monday, when Stevens said an expensive massage chair was a loan, not a gift, from another friend.

"Does anyone really believe he thought that chair was a loan? It's been in his house for seven years," Bottini said. "What were the terms of this loan? Zero percent interest for 84 months? Simply saying, 'We're going to call this a loan and I don't have to report it,' is nonsense."

But Sullivan accused the Justice Department of twisting the case to make an honorable senator appear corrupt. When prosecutors "look at life through a dirty glass," he said, "then the whole world looks dirty."

To believe the government, you'd have to believe in "a master cover-up by a sinister senator," Sullivan said. Instead, Stevens and his wife paid $160,000 for the remodeling, and Sullivan told jurors that more than covered the cost of the project.

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View Justice Deptartment documents in the Ted Stevens corruption trial

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He told jurors to focus on the many letters and e-mails in which Stevens asks to be billed for his home renovations. Stevens says he assumed the bills were sent and that his wife paid them. Prosecutors say Stevens wrote the letters to cover himself.

To believe that, Sullivan told jurors, "You've got to think he's some mastermind of a conspiracy, who writes something so it'll protect himself seven, eight years later."

"That's sick," Sullivan said. "That's sick thoughts. That's not real life."

Sullivan also attacked Allen, the government's star witness, calling him a "bum." He told jurors that Allen - who has pleaded guilty to bribing state legislators - is offering substantial help to prosecutors in hopes of keeping his children from being prosecuted.

"What would a man say on a witness stand to protect his children?" Sullivan said.

Also, Allen is trying to protect his financial interests and maybe reduce his jail time by maybe helping "the government get a senator convicted. That would be substantial." Sullivan said.

Stevens asked for an unusually speedy trial that he hopes will clear his name before Election Day. He is fending off a tough Democratic challenge for a seat he's held for 40 years.

Democrats have invested heavily in the campaign, sensing an opportunity to unseat a legendary Republican figure and perhaps capture a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate.

The monthlong trial has been a distraction for Stevens during the crucial final weeks of the campaign. His opponent, Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich, has had the state all to himself while Stevens has been tethered to the Washington courtroom.

"If the trial comes to a conclusion and, as he believes, that he is found innocent, I think that he will win that election up there," Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, said Tuesday. "If it goes the other way, obviously it really won't matter what happens in the election."

[petro49l]

Ted should take his Abilify. Manic depressives are obsessed with remodeling their homes. Contractors are often called by someone with mental illness because "voices" told them to order home repair. Only medication can treat this problem.

[bobnjersey]

[Old Ted is being railroaded. Anyone could get $250,000 in repairs to their house for free and not notice.]
[Posted by johndevinejr at 12:05 PM : Oct 22, 2008]

i agree ... in the land of bizzaro ... i would be completely clueless if you doubled the value of my home ... added some new rooms it didn''t have before ... new furniture for my existing and new rooms ... my new gas grill (i love barbeque) ... and a full stock of new tools.

[rjstolba]

If anyone believes this scumbag, please contact me. I have a load of gold specked dirt that I will sell them cheap. His whole career has been built on intimidating his collegues to get what he wants. He probably blackmailed the contractor to get the things he and his wife wanted for their home. You would have to be totally oblivious to your surroundings to NOT KNOW what someone was putting in your house and who PAID for it. GIVE ME A BREAK!!!

[hologram5]

He is a "GOP''er" of course he is sinister and secretive. That is how the GOP party rolls. They divide and conquer. That was the way of the roman empire and look what happened to them.

[listenupf00l]

No I am the real Listenupfool !
and i admit i am more gay then the fake Listenupfool!

I think it''s completetly wrong for them to end it. That''s about the only place were I can pick up a Big black man, if you know what I mean.

I think it''s my right to pick it up were evr i want it.

[xlib]

pelosi, rangel, dodd, raines, johnson, gorelick, conyers

[ddaymichael]

Another fine example of the SENATE SINALITY SYSTEM. This bum has been on the take so long, he forgot that it''s illegal.

He would have us believe that evildoers he foolishly trusted fixed up his home behind his back.

Why not? His BS was always believed before.

[ddaymichael]

Of course it wasn''t his fault...it was THEM!

[pirmin3]

He''s on the take just like all of his colleagues in congress. He has gotten so used to it he finds it completely normal and hence feels he done nothing wrong.

[kansas1946]

Please. No one who has been in the senate that long is "simple." He is just another politician on the take, abusing his power, like many others. Nothing new or sinister here. Just greedy.

[achangenow]

Stevens had to know what was going on unless he''s senile. Well, on second thought, he must be senile and is one corrupt politician! Didn''t he demand that there be no paper trail of the illegal work done?
What''s up with the Republicans from Alaska? Must be the 24 hours of sun in the summer and the 24 hours of darkness in the winter!

[dbor77]

Stevens is definately "Sinister"..he''s completely corrupted. He reminds me of that guy that stands on the street corner with a sign waiting for hand outs. He wants to have his cake and eat it too...he knew what they were adding to his property. To throw his own wife under the bus in this trial is insane. Who does that?

[roadsterboy]

Just another example of Repiglican corruption. The only thing he has going for him is he didnt do the same thing as former Rep Foley and Senator Craig, that is, be a closet gay. Thats only because he is in his 80''s. If guilty, throw his A S S in jail.

[tannerbird]

Please dont do anything with him he is Palin''s coach

[honestabe8]

Senator you polish a ***. Here in the big city we got a word for those who''d bed their beloved big bird and make a mockery of our freedoms. Without even using a condom, without even saying "no". By God we have a name for people like that, it''s "Hey, Mother****er"

[farnorth5]

Well.Well.Well just think of that - The possibility of a bit of "PORK"going his way.This is what is expected after the second term!!!!!!
Anybody consider a "THREE TERM LIMIT"as being an appropriate CHANGE IN LEGISLATION.

[brianbwb-2009]

"I wonder", he said with a sinister grin in his mind, "if the gifts were for a reason that no one has examined, that maybe Allen was plowing Mrs. Steven''s "south forty", as it is sometimes known.

[scottyusa]

You mean Stevens is different than the leadership of the Democratic Party? Ted Kennedy? Hillary Clinton? Tim Mahonie? Christopher Dodd? Yeah my list goes on and on and you will match it with one of your own. That is why it is all Bush''''s fault. He had to work with a bunch of crooks.

Posted by mroutside12


Excellent observation.

[scottyusa]

It is not unbelievabe that Bill Allen did things at the senator''s place and did not charge even when asked. I am sure good old Bill considered it money in the bank for future use. I do think that at 84 and 40 years in the senate Stevens would not jeopardize everything over a measley $250,000.

[smurfcrusher]

BREAKING NEWS:

"AP: Palin children traveled on state expenses
VP hopeful charged state for children''s travel, amended expense reports
Palin Family Travel
In this Feb. 11, 2007 file photo, Bristol Palin, left, and her sister Willow, daughters Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, waves the starting flag for their father Todd Palin at the start of the Iron Dog snowmachine race in Big Lake, Alaska."

"Palin charged the state for her children to travel with her, including to events where they were not invited, and later amended expense reports that justified their presence as official business."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27310999/


Perhaps you Repubs can justify Palin using Alaska taxpayers as her own personal piggy bank?