Republican Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges related to a corruption probe on July 29, 2008. The U.S. Justice Department said Stevens was charged with seven counts of making false statements on financial disclosure forms.FOXNews.com: Department of Justice to Announce Charges Against Sen. Stevens (July 29, 2008) CNN.com: Grand jury indicts Alaska senator (July 29, 2008) Stevens' corruption trial began in late September 2008 and on October 27, jurors returned guilty verdicts on each count against him. Stevens was expected to be sentenced on January 26, 2008.CNN: Jury finds Stevens guilty on corruption charges (October 27, 2008) FOX News: Sen. Ted Stevens Found Guilty on All Counts in Federal Corruption Case
The Allegations
The indictment against Senator Ted Stevens alleged that the Alaska Republican did not report renovations done on his home in Girdwood, Alaska, by the VECO Corporation. The senator was also accused of hiding hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of gifts from the VECO Corporation and its CEO, Bill Allen. VECO is an Alaska-based oil services company. The indictment alleged Stevens engaged "in a nearly eight-year scheme to conceal his receipt of more than $250,000 in things of value from VECO Corporation."Department of Justice: U.S. Senator Indicted on False Statement Charges
Stevens Enters Plea
On July 31, 2008, Senator Ted Stevens pleaded not guilty to seven federal corruption charges. The attorney for Stevens, Brendan Sullivan, entered the plea and requested a trial by October, so that the trial could be over before November elections. Sullivan also requested that the trial take place in Alaska since most of the case witnesses are located there. A tentative court date of September 24, 2008 was set, and the trial began FOX News: Sen. Ted Stevens Enter Not Guilty Plea to Federal Corruption Charges (July 31, 2008)
Guilty
On the afternoon of October 27, 2008, a federal jury of eight women and four men returned a guilty verdict against Stevens on all counts against him. Stevens could face up to five years behind bars for each count. He was expected to be sentenced in January 2008.CNN: Jury finds Stevens guilty on corruption charges (October 27, 2008) FOX News: Sen. Ted Stevens Found Guilty on All Counts in Federal Corruption Case
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Fast Facts
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Alaska Senator Ted Stevens indicted on seven counts by a federal grand jury in July 2008
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Indictment alleged Stevens deliberately concealed the receipt of $250,000 in "things of value" from the VECO CorporationDepartment of Justice: U.S. Senator Indicted on False Statement Charges
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Indictment charged Stevens with making false statements on financial disclosure forms filed between 2001 and 2006Department of Justice: U.S. Senator Indicted on False Statement Charges
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Stevens is the longest-serving Republican U.S. senator ever; has served 40 yearsFirst Read (MSNBC): Ted Stevens Indicted (July 29, 2008)
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Stevens was the first sitting U.S. senator to face a federal indictment since 1993The Associated Press: Sen. Stevens indicted: 7 false statements counts (July 29, 2008)
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Stevens was 84 years old at time of indictmentCBS News: Sen. Ted Stevens Indicted (July 29, 2008)
