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Ted Stevens Indicted

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Elections 2008
Posted on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 12:03:12 PM EST
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The Indictment (PDF)

Reuters reporting:

Sen. Ted Stevens from Alaska, the longest serving U.S. Republican senator ever, was indicted on seven counts related to his holding of public office, a federal law enforcement official said Tuesday. The U.S. Justice Department has scheduled a news conference for 1:20 p.m. to make an announcement "regarding a significant criminal matter." The official said the news conference would announce the criminal charges against Stevens that have been returned by a federal grand jury in Washington, D.C.

More from the NYTimes:

Mr. Stevens, 84, was indicted on seven counts of falsely reporting income. The charges are related to renovations on his home and to gifts he has received. They arise from an investigation that has been under way for more than a year, in connection with the senator’s relationship with a businessman who oversaw the home-remodeling project.

More . . .

The key graf of the indictment in terms of corruption seems to be paragraph 17:

It was a part of the scheme that STEVENS, while during that same time period that he was concealing his continuing receipt of things of value from ALLEN and VECO from 1999 to 2006, received and accepted solicitations for multiple official actions from ALLEN and other VECO employees, and knowing that STEVENS could and did use his official position and his office on behalf of VECO during that same time period. These solicitations for official action, some of which were made directly to STEVENS, included the following topics: (a) funding requests and other assistance with certain international VECO projects and partnerships, including those in Pakistan and Russia; (b) requests for multiple federal grants and contracts to benefit VECO, its subsidiaries, and its business partners, including grants from the National Science Foundation to a VECO subsidiary; and (c) assistance on both federal and state issues in connection with the effort to construct a natural gas pipeline from Alaska's North Slope Region.

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    Ted Stevens Indicted | 64 comments (64 topical)

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    Thanks for sending (5.00 / 1) (#1)
    by Lahdee on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 12:06:08 PM EST
    that info down the tubes BTD.

    I guess his (5.00 / 1) (#2)
    by pie on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 12:06:23 PM EST
    Incredible Hulk tie couldn't protect him.

    Here's (none / 0) (#3)
    by pie on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 12:08:40 PM EST
    Ted, sporting the tie.

    [ Parent ]
    The great thing about indictments. . . (5.00 / 10) (#4)
    by LarryInNYC on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 12:08:53 PM EST
    as opposed to some terrible medical condition is that there's absolutely no reason to show the guy any hint of respect.

    The guy is a jerk (none / 0) (#14)
    by Truth Sayer on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 12:20:52 PM EST
    and whatever they indict him for is no doubt only the tip of the iceberg of the illegal things he has done.

    One can only hope they find him guilty and sentence him to spend time incarcerated on a bridge to nowhere.

    [ Parent ]

    I'm not entirely sure. . . (none / 0) (#17)
    by LarryInNYC on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 12:24:01 PM EST
    your comment is in keeping with the spirit of this particular blog.  But if anyone deserves it, Stevens is probably high on the list.

    [ Parent ]
    I don't know (none / 0) (#20)
    by Truth Sayer on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 12:34:40 PM EST
    The spirit of this blog can get pretty hard hitting on most days when it come to critique starting with the diaries themselves.

    [ Parent ]
    With the DOJ in the hands (5.00 / 3) (#5)
    by hairspray on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 12:09:12 PM EST
    of the Republicans, it will be hard for him to whine that it was a political hatchet job.

    Unless the GOP has turned on him in (5.00 / 1) (#15)
    by inclusiveheart on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 12:21:56 PM EST
    a desperate effort to hold onto the Senate seat.

    [ Parent ]
    when do we expect the (5.00 / 1) (#7)
    by TimNCGuy on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 12:13:55 PM EST
    talk of "presidential pardon" or the "commutation of sentence" to begin?

    Now? (none / 0) (#13)
    by Angel on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 12:20:19 PM EST


    [ Parent ]
    I am informed (5.00 / 3) (#19)
    by Steve M on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 12:29:57 PM EST
    that Stevens has released a brief statement in response to the charges:

    NO!
    Not (5.00 / 1) (#21)
    by pie on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 12:35:00 PM EST
    Hulk smash! ?

    [ Parent ]
    Unfortunately (5.00 / 1) (#22)
    by Steve M on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 12:35:53 PM EST
    I played that video for my wife, and now my 2-year old is walking around the house saying "NO!" just like Ted Stevens.  I wish you guys could hear it.

    [ Parent ]
    Ted prolly (none / 0) (#26)
    by pie on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 12:45:30 PM EST
    wishes he were two again.

    [ Parent ]
    I was expecting Stevens to (5.00 / 1) (#28)
    by litigatormom on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 12:50:11 PM EST
    blame the scurrilous gossip about him that is back up the series of tubes comprising the internets.

    [ Parent ]
    My response: (5.00 / 1) (#37)
    by madamab on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 01:40:03 PM EST
    HA-hah!

    [ Parent ]
    yes (none / 0) (#38)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 01:48:18 PM EST
    HA HA

    [ Parent ]
    Ya just gotta wonder (5.00 / 1) (#32)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 01:18:27 PM EST
    who the heck some people think they are.

    How could he believe no one would have any interest in how he doubles the size of his house?

    Buh bye to you, too.

    Traficant (D-OH) (none / 0) (#48)
    by Fabian on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 02:56:18 PM EST
    got convicted for similar transgressions and expelled by the House.  Wiki entry

    We'll see what happens with Stevens (R-AK)

    [ Parent ]

    Wow, that is one of the oddest toupes (none / 0) (#51)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 03:34:58 PM EST
    I've ever seen.

    [ Parent ]
    a bridge to the big house (5.00 / 3) (#33)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 01:18:47 PM EST
    excellent

    Ted Stevens Indicted (5.00 / 1) (#35)
    by Doc Rock on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 01:27:51 PM EST
    Tubular, man!

    in prison (none / 0) (#36)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 01:35:15 PM EST
    he may learn even more about tubes.

    [ Parent ]
    He's 84 years old; he will never see (5.00 / 4) (#41)
    by Anne on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 02:00:22 PM EST
    a day in jail - he'll plead guilty to the lesser charges, he'll pay the back taxes and interest, make some restitution, if any is called for, and the bottom line will be that the humiliation of being criminally indicted and pleading guilty at the end of a long and honorable (that's snark, folks) will be considered punishment enough for someone his age.

    Paris Hilton will have served more time that Stevens ever will.

    Lucky for him (5.00 / 1) (#43)
    by rdandrea on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 02:20:22 PM EST
    he was indicted now.  Bush can pardon him.

    Earmarks are inherently corrupt (5.00 / 1) (#45)
    by daryl herbert on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 02:23:52 PM EST
    and inherently corrupting.

    Congress' approval rating is lower than George W. Bush's, in large part because of pork and its associated corruption.

    For example, Harry Reid tried to buy off Republicans on the energy issue by offering them major pork.  They held to their principles (if exploiting the environment can be called a "principle"), but maybe Reid will come back and offer them ten times as much pork.

    If we got rid of pork at the national level, porkers like Sen. Stevens might not even bother running for office.

    Good riddance to Sen. Stevens.

    the point of being a republic (none / 0) (#53)
    by sancho on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 03:39:57 PM EST
    (other than collective security) is for the states to get together and distribute the pork. no pork; no government. of course some distributions are better than others.

    [ Parent ]
    Today's Republican Party (5.00 / 1) (#50)
    by osage on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 03:23:00 PM EST
    Today's Republican Party is a freak show of hate-filled sociopaths, immoral religious and social extremists, insecure, overcompensating, irresponsible, dangerously incompetent, war-mongering imperialists and greedy, exploitive corporate anarchists. Just look at the odious and inadequate carnival barkers and snake oil salesmen the Republican Party had competing to be their presidential candidate. Being an Irish Catholic Democrat raised with four younger siblings by an uneducated single mom, I have never agreed with social conservatives, but compared to Bush's Republican Party Eisenhower's Republican Party was a liberal bastion of social and economic enlightenment and pluralism. Defending the actions of today's Republican Party is advocating ignorance and evil over common sense and common decency. It would be hard to imagine that any presidential administration, Republican or Democrat, could have been as malicious, polarizing, undemocratic, corrupt or destructively pernicious to the founding causes and defining principles of our republic than George W. Bush's. I am surprised that I am ashamed for the "good" Republicans, only because I could not have possibly imagined how "bad" some Americans were capable of being.

    Let's try "heartless amorality." (none / 0) (#61)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Wed Jul 30, 2008 at 03:58:19 AM EST
    "Defending the actions of today's Republican Party is advocating ignorance and evil over common sense and common decency."

    "Evil" is such a strong word to use when describing people.

    When I worked for the U.S. House on Capitol Hill in the early '90s, then-GOP backbencher Newt Gingrich began referring to us Democrats as "evil incarnate" -- that is, when he wasn't calling us "sick, pathetic, liberal, incompetent, tax-spending traitors." I found such words to be simultaneously hurtful, destructive and polarizing, and I've shied away from such bomb-throwing rhetorical hyperbole ever since.

    (And yes, those are actual terms Gingrich used to describe Democrats in his floor speeches.)

    [ Parent ]

    Hopefully (5.00 / 0) (#55)
    by Wile ECoyote on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 04:25:37 PM EST
    he has more class than "Cold Cash Jefferson" and steps down, but I doubt it.

    Seems strange (1.00 / 1) (#39)
    by jimakaPPJ on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 01:56:50 PM EST
    for the DOJ to do this right in the middle of an election. After all, Stevens isn't going anywhere and the investigation has been going on for what, two years??

    Why couldn't they wait?

    because its in the middle of an election (none / 0) (#40)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 01:58:04 PM EST
    and they want to look like they are being "balanced".


    [ Parent ]
    Conspiracy Theories (none / 0) (#44)
    by bocajeff on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 02:21:11 PM EST
    What I always loved about conspiracy theories is that no matter what is done there is always an explanation to make it fit the particular theory.

    Exhibit A: Bush does something against a Dem then it must be because they are going after Dems

    Exhibit B: Bush does something against a Rep then it must be because they want to be balanced

    Exhibit C: Bush doesn't do anything then it means because they are either incompetent or in agreement

    Either way Bush is always wrong...

    [ Parent ]

    Well. . . (5.00 / 2) (#46)
    by LarryInNYC on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 02:31:36 PM EST
    it's certainly true that Bush is always wrong, but I doubt he has anything to do with this particular issue.

    [ Parent ]
    I didnt really think of it as a (none / 0) (#49)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 03:22:18 PM EST
    conspiracy theory.  but I will go with that.


    [ Parent ]
    Election (none / 0) (#6)
    by mmc9431 on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 12:11:58 PM EST
    I wonder if this will give the Rep a chance to put a different candidate on ticket? Steven's was in trouble according to polls. Also will this have the same affect as Rep corruption did in IL and OH? Illinois Rep still haven't been able to regroup.

    Their backup. . . (5.00 / 1) (#10)
    by LarryInNYC on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 12:17:40 PM EST
    Governor Palin, is enmeshed in her own scandal.

    [ Parent ]
    Per MSNBC... (none / 0) (#11)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 12:18:31 PM EST
    "However, before the general election, Stevens must survive a GOP primary that occurs on August 26."

    [ Parent ]
    Crud (none / 0) (#8)
    by andgarden on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 12:16:57 PM EST
    When is the Alaska filing deadline?

    According to Kos (none / 0) (#16)
    by rottenart on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 12:21:59 PM EST
    it was June 2. They might be screwed. Ha!

    [ Parent ]
    Oh, cool! I saw the AK candidate (none / 0) (#23)
    by beachmom on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 12:36:46 PM EST
    a couple of weeks ago, and he is very impressive.

    Are we going to gain a seat in AK?  That would really be fantastic if we did.  

    [ Parent ]

    Actually (none / 0) (#24)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 12:38:46 PM EST
    Kos analysis does not make sense to me.

    If they can get Stevens to resign, they would do it now, name a replacement Senator from among the announced primary candidates and go from there.

    [ Parent ]

    In addition (5.00 / 1) (#42)
    by rottenart on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 02:15:52 PM EST
    to the comments below as to reasons why they couldn't just appoint a successor , I'd just ask: do you really think they could get Teddy to resign? Even if they wanted to? He's quite the firebrand and I don't think he's willing to go quietly. Of course, maybe if they offered to do some renovation work on his house...

    [ Parent ]
    Governor doesn't have appointment power (none / 0) (#27)
    by andgarden on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 12:48:28 PM EST
    anymore, supposedly.

    [ Parent ]
    I wonder (5.00 / 3) (#29)
    by Steve M on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 12:50:35 PM EST
    if that could possibly be the result of the prior governor appointing his frickin' DAUGHTER to the Senate.

    [ Parent ]
    heh, exactly (none / 0) (#31)
    by andgarden on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 12:55:51 PM EST


    [ Parent ]
    Guess that explains... (none / 0) (#9)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 12:17:14 PM EST
    ...why he announced that he wouldn't be attending the RNC in St. Paul.

    It couldn't have happenned to a nicer guy (none / 0) (#12)
    by SoCalLiberal on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 12:19:57 PM EST
    Only problem is that the Alaska GOP will likely nominate someone else and hold the seat.  

    I dunno (none / 0) (#18)
    by rottenart on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 12:25:35 PM EST
    Begich looks pretty good. This can only help, because the other R isn't well known. At least as far as I know.

    [ Parent ]
    I wonder... (none / 0) (#25)
    by kdog on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 12:44:21 PM EST
    who he pissed off at the DOJ or in the executive branch to get pinched...I mean these people have no issue with corruption, it's always personal.

    Whatever it is, it's nice when one of the real criminal gets snared in their own net.

    One down, 99 to go.

    "Falsely reporting income"... (5.00 / 1) (#34)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 01:23:09 PM EST
    ...sounds like perhaps he made an enemy or two at the friendly, neighborly IRS office.

    [ Parent ]
    An IRS employee will (none / 0) (#47)
    by Fabian on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 02:51:37 PM EST
    be doing time for "unauthorized access" to the records of over 200 professional athletes and entertainment figures.

    I'm glad.  Not sure how the employee was caught though...maybe started revealing information to others?

    [ Parent ]

    didn't have to. (5.00 / 1) (#56)
    by cpinva on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 05:06:58 PM EST
    all access to taxpayer master files is recorded and monitored.

    Not sure how the employee was caught though...maybe started revealing information to others?

    all TIGTA had to do was review those files, and determine whether or not this person had a legitimate business reason to be accessing them. if they didn't............................

    [ Parent ]

    VECO and Allen Supposedly Cooperated (none / 0) (#52)
    by creeper on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 03:37:43 PM EST
    in this investigation.  Looks like maybe Ted didn't deliver everything they expected.

    Self-centered SOBs like Stevens screw everyone, even their friends.

    [ Parent ]

    At the press conference the Asst AG (none / 0) (#30)
    by inclusiveheart on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 12:55:45 PM EST
    does not want to talk about the stautory maximum associated with the charges in this case.  Says he knows that the DOJ normally does that, but won't do it.

    Sort of interesting.  Different than the Spitzer case as I recall.

    This must be bad (none / 0) (#54)
    by cmugirl on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 04:19:39 PM EST
    The National Review's blog, The Corner , is calling for Stevens to resign.
    That article... (none / 0) (#57)
    by OrangeFur on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 05:26:37 PM EST
    ... is surprisingly principled. They urge Stevens to resign immediately, even though (as they point out) it would be tactically better for the GOP if he were to wait until after the primary.

    If Stevens refuses to resign, the GOP's best hope is that their primary voters can organize enough to choose one of his relatively weak competitors.

    Stevens represents a lot of what's wrong with Washington. You wonder sometimes about these people--Stevens, Cunningham, Traficant, etc. They have considerable power and wealth by almost any standard, and yet they engage in these shady deals to get more. Nobody seems immune to it.

    [ Parent ]

    Or.... (none / 0) (#60)
    by CoralGables on Wed Jul 30, 2008 at 01:12:59 AM EST
    I have read a different account of this and am unsure of the correct scenario. If Stevens wins the primary, and then withdraws I believe the party can name a replacement for the GE.

    It's too late to take his name off the ballot. So actually the best scenario for Begich to win the Senate seat for the Dems might actually be Stevens losing the primary because there are no strong candidates opposing Stevens on the ballot. If Stevens loses the primary the GOP is stuck. If he wins the primary then withdraws they may have an out to pick anyone they choose.

    [ Parent ]

    what's wrong with washington does (none / 0) (#63)
    by hellothere on Wed Jul 30, 2008 at 09:25:46 AM EST
    not just include repubicans. our do nothing democratic congress needs to account to the american people for their caving in to the repubicans on very important issues facing americans. we have TO HOLD THEIR FEET TO THE FIRE. they take us for granted.

    [ Parent ]
    Can we assume (none / 0) (#58)
    by s5 on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 05:43:13 PM EST
    that Talkleft will be blogging the trial? I would be happy to cheer on the details of his downfall as it happens. (And of course, I hope he receives a vigorous defense and a fair trial.)

    Stevens & Cheney (none / 0) (#59)
    by weltec2 on Tue Jul 29, 2008 at 06:41:44 PM EST
    Part of the indictment rests of the fact that Stevens was securing contracts for his son. So... we can indict a Senator for conflict of interest  but we can't indict Cheney for securing no-bid contracts for a company that gives him a healthy yearly retainer. In other words, some Repugs are above the law and others are not. Why? Didn't he pay off the right people?

    If this inconsistency does not get Michael Mukasey kicked out of the DOJ then I suppose nothing will.

    This Delightfully Opens Up (none / 0) (#62)
    by bob h on Wed Jul 30, 2008 at 06:49:21 AM EST
    again the issue that cost the Republicans so heavily in 2006: corruption.

    Stevens' office was raided last year (none / 0) (#64)
    by Dark Avenger on Wed Jul 30, 2008 at 10:27:43 AM EST
    to the day.

    I don't see how a law enforcement agency could justify not indicting someone after raiding their office as long as a year ago.

    Also, remember:

    "Justice delayed is justice denied."

    TPMMuckraker timeline here.

    PPJ hasn't blamed the "Demos" for the indictment yet, somewhat to my surprise.  Are you feeling like yourself, PPJ?

    Ted Stevens Indicted | 64 comments (64 topical)

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