July 29, 2008
Posted: 03:33 PM ET
Inouye said Stevens was surprised by the indictment.
Inouye said Stevens was surprised by the indictment.

WASHINGTON (CNN) – Sen. Ted Stevens was caught by surprise Tuesday by his federal indictment on charges that he concealed hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of gifts and services from a company in his home state, his colleague Sen. Daniel Inouye told CNN Senior Producer Ted Barrett.

"Apparently the media knew about it before he did," Inouye said, adding he had just spoken to Stevens.

Stevens was meeting with Republican colleagues when the indictment was returned, and he was pulled out of the meeting, his colleague said.

Listen: Inouye talks to CNN's Ted Barrett about Stevens

"As far as he's concerned he's not guilty. And I believe him," Inouye said.

Filed under: Senate • Ted Stevens


Ms. White   July 29th, 2008 8:27 pm ET

surprise he actully was indicted ….try that for size

Gorbashov - Long Beach, Ca.   July 29th, 2008 8:25 pm ET

Yes, when one is living in the state of denial the truth can be surprising.

Come on 60!

PaulC   July 29th, 2008 7:47 pm ET

I have no doubt he was surprised by the indictment and I also have no doubt that he is guilty. How do they become multimillionaires from only their salary? Only a very small amount of the larceny by our Representatives is punished.

Wayne, Greenville TX   July 29th, 2008 7:44 pm ET

He's sure to be even more surprised when he's found guilty and spends the rest of his sorry life in prison. He should forfeit his senatorial pension.

Travis   July 29th, 2008 7:43 pm ET

Imagine surprised…..surprised like most Reflipicans…he got caught

Enough ALready!!!!!   July 29th, 2008 7:30 pm ET

Enough on Stevens Please!!!

Raymond Duke   July 29th, 2008 7:26 pm ET

Of course all these crooks are going to hang together. They don't want all this bad publicity to get out and upset their gravy train bowl. How do you think that they get re-elected all the time and no one has enough funds to run against them regardless of which party they belong to. Heck look at Obama . He has stated that he is going to spend 20 million dollars on pandering to the Hispanics "saying he will run amenisty down the throats of americans if elected".

Kanawah   July 29th, 2008 7:14 pm ET

Only because of his arrogance could he have not known it was coming.
If he is guilty of half of what he is accused of, he should spend the rest of his life in jail.

EBC   July 29th, 2008 6:54 pm ET

Sen. Inoye,

MOST crooks ARE surprised when they are indicted. DAH, I mean these dirty RATS always think they can CHEAT the American people and lined their greedy pockets at the same time.

I have NO sympathy for any politicians who are corrupt while in office. Bottom line. There are NO excuses, NO exceptions!!!

Congress and the Senate expects the "average" Joe Smith to follow the laws and HERE you have a member of the Senate getting RICH of the HOG!!! Get outta HERE with all this rubbish.

They ALL say "I'm not guilty"…. like it's some sort of banner that frees them from the truth. I mean, it's ironic just how much crap these politicians start believing themselves! They start believing they are ABOVE THE LAW!!

It's time to start cleaning house of all those OLD dirty rats!! It's time we as a nation START demanding our politicians BEHAVE and ADHERE TO THE LAWS, just like everyone else does.

al   July 29th, 2008 6:53 pm ET

*********************

YEAH HE WAS MEETING WITH HIS REPUB CROOKSK DISCUSSING THE IMPENDING ARREST AND STRATEGY TO GET OFF THE HOOK.

Voter   July 29th, 2008 6:24 pm ET

Rumors have been flying about this guy for several YEARS.

Surprised? Really?

The only surprise is that the Bush Administration didn't cover it up.

Marge Hibbing Mn   July 29th, 2008 6:07 pm ET

This guy is crooked as they come. He stole money from his Insurance customers and bankrupted the company…seems like that's a republican "thang" the bush brothers did it to the savings and loans companies.

Inouye would have been indicted and send to jail but the politicans in OK got him off. AND TO BEAT ALL…a few years later he ran for congress and wonders of wonders he won. That's a republican area for you. They don't give a darn how crooked you are as long as you are a republican. Kinda reminds me of the reason the democratic nominaee won the southern states primaries.

popeye   July 29th, 2008 5:55 pm ET

Stevens is another political dinosaur taking his last breath.
Like it or not, it is time for newer generations to take over.
Inouye also better be looking over his shoulder at the youngsters running up behind him.

America for Truth   July 29th, 2008 5:46 pm ET

Again, its another crooked Republican getting caught supporting big corporation in a illegal way. The illusion and deception game. I wonder what Purdent Murdoch and Fox News has to say about this one.

Denise Groves   July 29th, 2008 5:45 pm ET

He must have had his head buried in the sand. I knew about the trouble he is in from TPM

mwm   July 29th, 2008 5:38 pm ET

of course .he's waiting for bush to say executive priveledge!he has about 6 months to get his pardon.

Whats left in your wallet?   July 29th, 2008 5:34 pm ET

This guy might be surprised when he gets his too.

Ex-Republican for Obama   July 29th, 2008 5:30 pm ET

What a surprise! A repuglican feeling like his party is innocent despite the DOJ indicting him.

Let's put it this way: You may be innocent of the crime charged against you in court, but you don't end up in court by having an unquestionable record.

That means: Even if you didn't do the charged crime, you have comitted some kind of crime and/or have a very slimy reputation if you are charged of anything at all. You aren't suspicious for no reason.

I say charge every single republican politician out there. Crime: Being a Republican Politician and crimes against humanity.

TyWebb   July 29th, 2008 5:24 pm ET

Well, something had to wake Paul from his nap!

mediabias   July 29th, 2008 5:22 pm ET

CNN Where is the story about 72 % of the media coverage Obama receives is negative. Covert racism at work in MSM. While MSM edit and slice McCain gaffes and misstatements.

S. Boatman   July 29th, 2008 5:16 pm ET

How Dare They Bring Charges Against The Longest Standing Crooked Republican. . . How Dare They!

cindy   July 29th, 2008 5:13 pm ET

i see they are all innocent when they are caught with their pant down. politician will always be a politician stealing taxpayers money on top of their big pay. it is just a matter of time before they are all caught

Axel   July 29th, 2008 5:06 pm ET

Oh come on now, Sen. Inouye. Republicans never think they're guilty of anything. Even when there is irrefutable evidence against them. When are you guys going to get it through your heads that you are not above the law?

NoMcSame   July 29th, 2008 5:02 pm ET

Why? You shouldn't be because he is a republican and that is what they do. Ask the LIAR named McSame. Obama,Obama,Obama is all that comes out of his mouth and nothing that he says is true.

eric   July 29th, 2008 5:00 pm ET

As far as Stevens is concerned, the internet is a series of tubes as well, so I guess he's guilty as hell. Sen. Inouye ought to recognize an old, stupid, sinking ship when he sees one and be careful not to inherit the stink by casting his lot with Stevens.

ProudToBeDemocrat   July 29th, 2008 4:56 pm ET

he is cought red handed

Smell that Elephant Dung   July 29th, 2008 4:56 pm ET

What exactly surprised this guy?

Was it the extra $100K's in his account or was it the indictment for selling out his state and country that surprised him?

Jack - Des Moines   July 29th, 2008 4:54 pm ET

Only 8 pro-Obama comments on the AFL-CIO support Obama story and you close off any other comments. Shame on you CNN !

The executive council of the ALF-CIO has to launch a major campaign to convince the members, who pay their salaries, to support Obama. They are trying to cover their butts with this waste of money from Union dues. It is shameful and so is CNN for playing along.

Jenny, Rio Vista, CA   July 29th, 2008 4:53 pm ET

Perhaps he should have thought about the consequences before he broke the law. I guess he just wasn't high enough up on the Republican ladder to be protected.

Jason - Chandler, Arizona   July 29th, 2008 4:53 pm ET

I'm surprised HE is surprised. His attorney surely knew before the media did. I am shocked that the GOP would say they aren't guilt. This how many senators in the last 2 years that have had major legal trouble? First Larry "Stallman" Craig. Now we have Ted "Im Angry" Stevens in hot water. They say the Democrats are breaking the law and rules. Hmmm not so good now huh Repubs that the shoe is on the other foot!

Crooked toe tapping freaks.. And Republicans call themselves "conservative" almost $500 Billion in deficit! Thanx for nothing!

A.J.in Fla   July 29th, 2008 4:52 pm ET

No matter which party politicians belong to, you are all morally corrupted specially the ones from Vermont, "The Pedophilia State"

Do the right thing and resign a.s.a.p. before you approval rate drops below 3%, especially those moronic congressman and senators that got elected 2 years ago to end the war, lower the price of gasoline and improve the economy, especially those two liiberal, anarchyst, socialist/communist, the likes of Mrs. Pelosi and Mrs. Reid

A Nightingale Sings in Berkley Square   July 29th, 2008 4:51 pm ET

bird of a feather stick together

MD   July 29th, 2008 4:50 pm ET

Isn't there a rule that a congressman cannot be taken off the hill? I'm surprised the indictment came now rather than in august, when congress is out of session.

David in KC   July 29th, 2008 4:50 pm ET

Yet another corrupted criminal conservative. Lock him up.

Broad Street Buddy   July 29th, 2008 4:50 pm ET

Ok its over Inouye said hes not guilty so there is nothing more to see here people. Move it along . . . oh wait. We have a judicial system is this country for a reason right? We might as well see if they have a different oppinion. I mean that is the point of having checks and balances right? . . . separation of powers right??? Lock this old crook up!!

Bob Indianapolis, IN   July 29th, 2008 4:47 pm ET

Right! In the Neo-con Banana Republic NO ONE IS GUILTY; It's just that "MISTAKES WERE MADE…"

Griff   July 29th, 2008 4:46 pm ET

Me too?? The USA is on Drugs… LSD?? L - ed a - S - tray by D - emocrats. This is not News… Inditment of Obama, is News..

TXBad1   July 29th, 2008 4:45 pm ET

Whats new another crooked Republican, why does this not surprise us!

judge Huck   July 29th, 2008 4:44 pm ET

G O P = Guilty 'OL Party = Go tO Prison

Patrick Henry, Ft. Myers   July 29th, 2008 4:40 pm ET

Well–this is America where you're guilty until you're proving guilty. Don't you guys watch Cops?

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