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Ted Stevens' Trial Begins with Jury Selection
The trial of Alaskan Sen. Ted Stevens on seven counts of false statements begins today in Washington, D.C. Stevens, a seven term Republican, arrived in court this morning for jury selection. Opening statements are expected to begin either Tuesday afternoon or Wednesday morning.
The trial, which Stevens requested be as speedy as possible, is expected to last a month, ending shortly before the election. Originally, Stevens attempted to have the trial moved to Alaska, to accommodate his campaign for re-election. The motion was overruled, but the judge has stated that the trial will recess for Fridays, to allow the sitting Republican time to return to the campaign trail in Alaska.
Potential witnesses in the trial include Stevens himself, as well as former-VECO executive Bill Allen. Democratic Senators Ted Kennedy (MA), Patrick Leahy (VT) and Daniel Inouye (HI), as well as Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and former Secretary of State Colin Powell were also listed to jurors as possible witnesses this morning.
Stevens pleaded not guilty to making false statements on his financial disclosure forms relating to gifts he received from Allen for renovations on his home in Girdwood, Alaska, among others. Between 1999-2006 he accepted gifts from VECO, include substantial amounts of material and labor in his private residence. These allegations include addition of new first floor, new bedrooms and bathrooms, a grill, as well as failing to report other gifts, such as a $29,000 bronze statue of a fish. The total amount of gifts is valued at over $250,000.
Josh
Zachary
How come no one is bringing up her affiliation with the Radical Alaskan Secessionist Party, AKIP. I interviewed them on her involvement, the USA and death threats.
Read it here
http://newsone.com/elections/article/akip-interview-on-palin
September 22, 2008 11:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
Her affiliation with the AIP was tenuous, though her doofus husband belonged. She did do a videotape greeting them at one of their conventions.
They're a bunch of harmless wankers. One apparently sold his place on the 1990 Lt. Gubernatorial ticket to Jack Coghill, and his buddy off loaded his Gubernatorial slot to Wally Hickel. Hickel won over the Democrat and official Republican ticket and returned to the state house after a two decade absence.
September 23, 2008 3:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
May Steven get a "cell to nowhere"....
September 22, 2008 12:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Why isn't Gov. Palin, you know the person who ran his 527 in 2003-2006, on his character witness list?
September 22, 2008 1:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Jonze assumes that these various senators and dignitaries are being called as character witnesses, that's not at all clear from the stories I can find. Can we get some sort of clarification/explanation?
Maybe the use of these Senators and dignitaries as character witnesses is their strategy/tactic, yet of course there are several other possibilities: witnesses of fact (that Stevens didn't do anything illegal), or perhaps witnesses to be impugned in an "everybody-was doing-it" muckfest defense. And of course various witnesses could be being called for different reasons.
One would hope that Leahy and Kennedy, at least, would be intelligent enough not to give Teddy a character reference.
Inouye may once have been a smart man, yet in his Republican senility phase he is probably stupid enough to actually vouch for Stevens' character ... I guess it's better than the alternative that Hawai'i is corrupt for people with D's after their names, but it sure seems like there is a lot of work to be done over there in bringing actual small-d democracy to the state.
September 22, 2008 2:47 PM | Reply | Permalink
So ... does anyone know when Charlie Rangles trial starts?
September 22, 2008 3:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
What's the matter with you Troll Hunter; are you opposed to due process?
First, he has to be accused of a crime.
Your glee not withstanding, Rangles has repeatedly asked the ethics committee to investigate him. Until such an investigation occurs, and a crime is posited, no trial is appropriate.
That's the process that Stevens was afforded. That's how it works in America.
September 22, 2008 3:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
pkafin, hahahaethicscommitteehahaha
Try the FBI. Ray Metcalfe did, again, again, and again. Thanks Ray.
September 23, 2008 3:31 AM | Reply | Permalink
Ray Metcalf is a bullshit artist, one who, like Palin, takes credit where it's not due.
September 23, 2008 3:41 AM | Reply | Permalink
Palin's 2002 Contributions from the VECO laundry
ALLEN, BILL J $500 1.03% Energy & Natural Resources Pled guilty to corruption (VECO CEO)
MOLYNEUX, VAL J $500 1.03% Energy & Natural Resources VECO
CHAN, ROGER J $500 1.03% Energy & Natural Resources VECO
MCKEE II, RALPH F $500 1.03% Energy & Natural Resources VECO
CORKRAN, THOMAS P $500 1.03% Energy & Natural Resources VECO
ALLEN, MARK J $500 1.03% Energy & Natural Resources VECO (Bill's son)
ALLEN, JEANNETTE $500 12/28/2001 Allen's wife VECO
LEATHARD, PETER $500 12/30/2001 Oil & Gas VECO
SMITH, RICHARD L (RICK) $500 12/28/2001 Oil & Gas VECO VP Pled guilty to corruption
Also:
CLARK, JAMES $150 Chief of staff for former Governor Murkowski - Pled guilty to corruption
September 23, 2008 3:36 AM | Reply | Permalink