« previous | MUCK HOME | next »
Financial Disclosure Forms at Center of Stevens' False Statements
The recent indictment of Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK) is up in TPMmuckraker's document collection, but here's a quick and dirty summary of the seven counts of false statements which are based on his personal financial disclosure forms from 1999 to 2006.
According to the indictment, Stevens concealed "things of value," estimated at around $250,000, from his publicly filed personal financial disclosure forms over the past seven years. It is this concealment, and not the legality of accepting those "things of value," that is at issue.
We've reported extensively on those gifts from VECO and VECO's former CEO Bill Allen which are the primary exchanges named in the indictment.
While Allen pleaded guilty to bribery charges over these gifts in 2007, it's important to note that no bribery charges are being filed against Stevens.
For the DOJ comments on the indictment, check out our video of the press conference.
Josh
Zachary
Will a legal beagle please inform us why accepting $250,000 in gifts is legal (did he report the gifts on his 1040's?), but giving $250,000 (no strings attached of course) to the good Senator is illegal, but Stevens not reporting the legal gift to the Senate is illegal? I for one am confused!
July 29, 2008 3:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
Stevens is important...
He'll get slapped with a fine and censure and have to give some of the money back... er... he'll have to give some of his campaign funds to the judge... IMHO
Of course, ordinary folk like you and I would spend some hard time in a regular prison for a similar crime...
July 29, 2008 3:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
now is the time to strike. Help Mark Begich win Stevens seat. He's a strong candidate and if he wins it will be a seismic shift in senate.
July 29, 2008 8:21 PM | Reply | Permalink