Indicted senator pleads not guilty
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/07/31/art.stevenscourt.ap.jpg caption="Stevens pleaded not guilty."]WASHINGTON (CNN) - Indicted Sen. Ted Stevens of Alaska pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges of scheming to conceal thousands of dollars worth of gifts from an oil-services company.
His lawyer requested that the trial be moved to Alaska from Washington, and that it take place before November because Stevens is up for re-election.
"I want to make a request if at all possible that the trial be in October so that he can clear his name before the general elections," said the attorney, Brendan Sullivan.
He proposed moving the trial to Alaska because a majority of the witnesses are there and the events in question took place there.
Judge Emmet Sullivan, who is not related to Stevens' attorney, said he thought Washington is an appropriate location for the trial but that he will entertain a motion to move it to Alaska.
Stevens was indicted Tuesday on seven counts of filing false reports on his mandatory Senate financial disclosure forms.
The federal indictment says Veco Energy paid for hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of work on Stevens' home over a period of about seven years, and Stevens failed to report it.
Stevens, 84, the longest-serving Republican in Senate history, has not spoken during the hearing; his attorney entered the not-guilty plea on his behalf.
Dressed in a light gray suit, Stevens seemed relaxed before the hearing began and smiled after he sat down at the defense table to chat with his legal team.
Two benches in the federal district courthouse were filled by reporters from television, radio and wire services.
From CNN Politics
- Biden's student loan forgiveness program faces a new threat from Senate Republicans
- 10 Cards Charging 0% Interest Until 2024
- Republican lawmaker calls TikTok 'an immediate threat' and calls for app to be banned
- Trump leans into extremism at first 2024 rally as legal woes mount
- Supreme Court declines to hear Kansas racial gerrymandering case
- Supreme Court won't review contempt conviction of anti-Chevron environmental lawyer
His bridge to nowhere should now lead to jail.
and....Tom De Lay also said.....I am Not Guilty!
Repugnants are soooo corrupt
It's a series of tubes!
Throw the thief in jail and let him rot.
Then start looking into Obama's land deal in Chicago.
Like we should be surprised...A powerful republican was in it for himself??? WOW Shocker!!!
Let's see if this one follows the typical order of rhetoric:
1.) "I will not comment on that because I have not seen the report."
2.) "I categorically deny all charges."
3.) "I cannot comment on that because it's under investigation."
4.) "This is an obvious attempt by the opposition to destroy myself, and my family."
5.) "I'm leaving politics to spend more time with my family."
6.) "I'm sorry for the shame I've brought to my wife, family and party."
7.) "I've found God."
(Sigh) Why don't they EVER come clean from the start?
Moving the trail to Alaska makes no sense. With all the pork that Stevens has gotten delivered to Alaska as Senator over the past 40 years, no way you can find a juror that hasn't benefited some way... unless no jury trail but then even in that case, I'm thinking that someone as powerful as Stevens has to know lots of judges and such in Alaska.
Corrupt ... every last one of them ... McCain included.
We need to eliminate the whole lot of them and start over.
Treat this Stevens guy the same as you would Rashad, the alleged crack dealer.
Put his butt in jail for 18 months while we wait for the trial to come up on the courts docket.
No more special treatment for old criminals or presidential candidates.
JUST LIKE TOM DELAY, JACK AMBRAHOF, AND ALL THE OTHER LYING REPUBLICANS, YES EVEN JOHN MCCAIN. REMEMBER KEATING. ALL LIARS AND THEIVES.
Chalk up another seat for the Dems.
The Republicans should accuse Obama for Stevens' problems.Don't they blame Obama for everything wrong that had happened in America?
1. The high price of gas.
2.Mess up Economy.
3.The war in Iraq.
4.John McCain shot down in Vietnam.
5.Johnny left his wife and married rich Cindy.
6.The mole Johnny has.
Obama is responsible for everything. When was McBush wrong? I guess never. He is always right.
If McBush is always right as he claims,how come the American people are facing so much difficulties?
McBush's Republican Party have been in Washington for almost 8 years. What did he do to help put them on the right track?
Obama was right,McBush is missing his bearings.