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US Senator Stevens found guilty | US Senator Stevens found guilty |
(about 12 hours later) | |
The longest-serving Republican in the US Senate has been found guilty of lying about gifts worth $250,000 he received from an oil company. | The longest-serving Republican in the US Senate has been found guilty of lying about gifts worth $250,000 he received from an oil company. |
Ted Stevens, 84, was charged with seven counts in connection with the gifts. | Ted Stevens, 84, was charged with seven counts in connection with the gifts. |
Mr Stevens faces up to five years in prison on each count but, under federal guidelines, is unlikely to spend much time in prison. | Mr Stevens faces up to five years in prison on each count but, under federal guidelines, is unlikely to spend much time in prison. |
He is fighting a tough re-election battle against Democrat Mark Begich for his Alaskan Senate seat. | |
A victory for the Democrats in that race could help them towards winning 60 Senate seats, enough to hold a filibuster-proof majority in the upper chamber. | |
"I will fight this unjust verdict with every ounce of energy I have," Mr Stevens said. | |
He has been one of the most influential senators in Washington. | |
Until the Democrats took control of the Senate in 2006, he was chair of the Appropriations Committee, in charge of billions of dollars in the federal budget. | |
Bribery charges | |
During the trial, prosecutors gave details of the items given to Mr Stevens by the oil firm, Veco, including a massage chair, rope lighting, furniture, a gas grill and a fully stocked tool chest. | During the trial, prosecutors gave details of the items given to Mr Stevens by the oil firm, Veco, including a massage chair, rope lighting, furniture, a gas grill and a fully stocked tool chest. |
Veco also provided contractors to carry out home renovations at Mr Stevens's cabin in Girdwood, Alaska. | Veco also provided contractors to carry out home renovations at Mr Stevens's cabin in Girdwood, Alaska. |
Bill Allen, Veco's founder, pleaded guilty to bribery charges in May 2007. | Bill Allen, Veco's founder, pleaded guilty to bribery charges in May 2007. |
Testifying to the court, Mr Stevens claimed that he had paid Mr Allen $160,000 for the work done, and had been under the impression that no more money was required. | Testifying to the court, Mr Stevens claimed that he had paid Mr Allen $160,000 for the work done, and had been under the impression that no more money was required. |
And he had considered many of the gifts as loans - including the massage chair. | And he had considered many of the gifts as loans - including the massage chair. |
Prosecutor Joseph Bottini, in his closing argument, poured scorn on Mr Stevens's testimony. | Prosecutor Joseph Bottini, in his closing argument, poured scorn on Mr Stevens's testimony. |
"Does anybody really believe that the defendant really can't get Bill Allen to stop giving him all this free stuff?" he asked. | "Does anybody really believe that the defendant really can't get Bill Allen to stop giving him all this free stuff?" he asked. |
"Does anyone really believe he thought that [massage] chair was a loan? It's been in his house for seven years." | "Does anyone really believe he thought that [massage] chair was a loan? It's been in his house for seven years." |
Polls suggest Mr Stevens is currently neck and neck with his Democratic rival in his bid for re-election, but correspondents say a guilty verdict in the trial will certainly damage his chances of victory. | |
Despite the guilty verdict, he is not required by law to drop out of the election or give up his seat. | Despite the guilty verdict, he is not required by law to drop out of the election or give up his seat. |
There is no formal rule barring felons from serving in Congress, so if he wins he could stay in the Senate, unless his fellow senators vote to expel him by a two-thirds vote. | |
In recent years, Senators convicted of bribery and corruption have resigned rather than face an expulsion hearing. | |
Mr Stevens famously allocated $200m to build to "bridge to nowhere" connecting two islands in his home state of Alaska, a project that was ultimately dropped. |