Senator Ted Stevens testifies
From Sunshine Review
18 October 2008
Alaska Senator Ted Stevens took the stand in his own defense. While on trial for lying on his Senate disclosure form, he is also up for re-election. Stevens is accused of hiding $250,000 in gifts and services.[1]
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[edit] Prosecution mistakes
Initial reports painted a strange picture of the prosecution's case. They are said to have made a number of mistakes and broken many rules, enough so that Judge Emmett Sullivan accused them of knowingly submitting false evidence. While Sullivan did not choose to declare a mistrial, he did tell the jury ignore key pieces of evidence.[1]
[edit] Wife testifies
Stevens' wife Catherine took the stand and told the jurors that she was in charge of the renovations on their Alaska home and paid all of the bills she received, totaling some $160,000.[2] She said she had no idea that thousands of dollars in labor and material costs were picked up by Bill Allen, an oil industry executive.
[edit] Stevens' testimony
Sen. Stevens followed his wife, testifying that he repeatedly asked Allen for all of the bills and had assumed Catherine paid all of them. Allen had earlier said that Stevens' request for bills was "just Ted covering his ass."[1] Stevens insisted that he did not want many of the big-ticket items that Allen repeatedly put in the house, including furniture. However, Stevens could not explain why the furniture is still there, seven years later.
[edit] References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 NPR, Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens Takes The Stand, October 18, 2008
- ↑ AP, Stevens judged by 2 juries, in trial and election, October 19, 2008
