Stevens has until Jan. to report legal expensesSen. Ted Stevens will not have to disclose who is footing his mounting legal expenses until after the Nov. 4 election, according to the Senate Ethics Committee. Stevens Senate Aide Handled Personal BillsThis seems to have little to do with the specific charges against Ted Stevens, but Catherine Stevens’ testimony has revealed that the senator used a well paid Senate aide to pay personal credit cards and home utility bills and run other personal errands for the senator and his wife. Wife downplays senator’s role in home improvementsShe was meant to bolster his defense, but her difficulty under cross-examination may have hurt her credibility with the jury. Stevens Disregards Definition Of DisclosureApparently, Senator Ted Stevens is missing the point of the financial disclosure forms he fills out (or doesn’t) every year. Twice this week, Stevens’ defense team argued in a motion that there is no “public interest in disclosure or public ‘right to know.’” However, the purpose of the financial disclosure form is to disclose, monitor and deter conflicts of interest, thereby maintaining public confidence in the integrity of the Senate and its Members. Unbelievably, Stevens is arguing the public is not entitled to this information, and saying they are is “inflammatory and highly prejudicial.” Friend admits not getting bills for StevensA close friend who oversaw Ted Stevens’s home renovations admitted Thursday that he did not get the Alaska Republican bills to pay for the project now at the center of the senator’s corruption trial in Washington. Bob Persons, who owns a restaurant near the senator’s home in Girdwood, Alaska, said under cross-examination Thursday that he was not asked by the senator to get a bill from Bill Allen, the former head of the Veco oil-services firm who paid for much of the costs. MEMO: Must-Answer Questions For Senator Ted StevensSince the FBI raided his Girdwood chalet more than a year ago, Senator Ted Stevens has adamantly refused to answer questions from Alaskans. Even Governor Sarah Palin has asked questions of Stevens, but those too went unanswered. Prosecutors have presented evidence showing that Stevens knowingly received gifts from VECO, never paid for them, and refused to disclose them. The trial has chronicled Stevens scheme to keep gifts secret. If Stevens takes the stand at his corruption trial, he owes Alaskans an honest explanation about what really happened. While Alaskans have waited for answers from Stevens about his activities, Stevens has developed quite a reputation for being short with reporters and leaving Alaskans in the dark. Stevens has claimed he’s innocent, but he hasn’t yet explained the charges of corruption against him. Stevens is accused of lying to Alaskans for seven years and scheming to cover up free renovations at his Girdwood chalet. Alaskans deserve honest answers from their Senator. Judge tells Stevens to turn over disputed e-mailsA federal judge on Tuesday ordered Sen. Ted Stevens’s defense attorneys to turn over thousands of e-mails sent by his wife, Catherine, during the time when the Alaska Republican allegedly concealed hundreds of thousands of dollars of gifts. Stevens Argues He Has No Responsibility To Be Open And Transparent With The PublicYesterday, Senator Ted Stevens’ defense team argued that Stevens has no responsibility to be open and transparent with Alaskans about his alleged criminal acts. In fact they went as far to say that, “…references to the ‘public’s right to know’ are highly prejudicial,” to him at his corruption trial. The motion filed by Stevens’ defense team suggests that if Stevens did lie about gifts on his Financial Disclosure Forms, he was only lying to the government and not to the public as a whole. Unfortunately, this motion is nothing more than an attempt by Stevens to keep Alaskans in the dark and out of his affairs. DoJ: E-mails during Stevens renovations kept secretSen. Ted Stevens’s wife has refused to release a slew of e-mails from the time of an elaborate remodeling project at the couple’s Alaska home, the Justice Department alleged in court documents Monday night. The fight over the e-mails could be critical in the powerful Republican’s corruption trial, since they could give the government ammunition during cross-examination of the senator’s wife, Catherine, who is expected to take the witness stand this week. Will Stevens Testify At His Corruption Trial?This week, Senator Ted Stevens’ defense team will continue to call witnesses to speak on behalf of Stevens in his corruption trial. But as Alaskans watch the daily press coverage of the case, the one question on everyone’s mind is – will Stevens testify? While the defense team relies on a local Girdwood contractor and star-studded character witnesses to make their case, it is Stevens who was under investigation and unwilling to talk to Alaskans and it is Stevens who is charged with seven felonies in relation to accepting illegal gifts. The case against Stevens is straight forward – he knowingly received gifts from VECO, never paid for them, and refused to disclose them. After years of refusing to answer questions, it’s Stevens that Alaskans want to hear from, not a list of famous names from Washington, DC. It’s time for Stevens to take the stand and finally explain himself. Prosecutors subpoena e-mails of Stevens’ wifeEven as Sen. Ted Stevens’ trial approaches a likely end this week, federal prosecutors are still attempting to gather more evidence, including correspondence between the Alaska senator and his wife, Catherine, as well as e-mails she may have sent to 34 others about their home renovation and gifts the senator may have received. The federal subpoena to Catherine Stevens’ law firm, dated Sept. 15, became public over the weekend when Stevens’ legal team asked the judge in the case to prevent the government from obtaining thousands of documents from the law firm, Mayer Brown. Stevens mum on testifying at his trialAs Ted Stevens’s criminal trial heads into its final days, defense attorneys have been mum on whether the pugnacious 84-year-old senator will testify. Putting the Alaska Republican on the witness stand is a risk. Stevens Tries To Impress Alaskans And Jury With Stars Who Have No Connection To His Corruption ChargesAs the defense takes its turn in Senator Ted Stevens’ corruption trial, they are trying to ‘razzle and dazzle’ the jury and Alaskans with an array of stars to testify on his behalf. But when it comes to the seven felony count case against Stevens in relation to accepting illegal gifts, what do these stars really know about Stevens and his Girdwood chalet remodeling? The case against Stevens is straight forward – he knowingly received gifts from VECO, never paid for them, and refused to disclose them. None of the stars taking the stand for Stevens can speak to the Girdwood chalet project or Stevens’ relationship with VECO. After years of refusing to answer Alaskans questions, it’s Stevens that Alaskans want to hear from, not a list of famous names from Washington, DC. It’s time for Stevens to take the stand and explain himself. Judge limits character witnesses for StevensThe judge presiding over Sen. Ted Stevens’s criminal trial limited the number of witnesses who would be allowed to vouch for the Alaska Republican’s character. In a Friday morning ruling, Judge Emmet G. Sullivan said the senator’s defense team could only call five of the 11 character witnesses they planned to call to the stand. The judge agreed with the government that the defense had proposed an excessive amount of character witnesses who would add little substance during the trial. “I’ll limit it to five,” Sullivan, of the U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia, told defense attorneys. “You select the five or I’ll select the five.” Stevens’ Proposed Character Witnesses Heavy On MinoritiesDefense attorneys for Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) have issued a proposed list of character witnesses that is heavy on minority representation, a move seemingly designed to appeal to a jury panel that is majority African-American. Twelve of the 16 members of the jurors - this includes four alternates - are black. Eleven of the 16 are women. Which 12 jurors will actually decide Stevens’ fate will be resolved prior to jury deliberations. ****Memo – Stevens In His Own Words****Alaskans have been waiting for over a year to hear Ted Stevens explain the FBI investigation. Instead of imagining scenes of an FBI surveillance team or what they might have recorded, Alaskans can now finally hear Ted Stevens for themselves. And the sooner Alaskans hear his words, the better, because it became shockingly clear in court yesterday that Stevens knew he had done something wrong. FBI tapes of a series of conversations between Bill Allen and Senator Stevens told the entire story. Alaskans can hear the recordings for themselves here at www.RetireTed.com. Excerpts from the FBI audio tapesTelephone conversations between Sen. Stevens and Bill Allen were recorded by the FBI. Here are some excerpts of the audio that were presented in court. (note:some conversations may contain explicit language) Prosecution Rests At Sen. Stevens TrialAfter nearly three weeks of testimony about the renovation of a mountain cabin that could ruin an epic political career, federal prosecutors on Thursday rested their corruption case against Sen. Ted Stevens. Judge Allows DOJ To Call Key Witnessudge Emmet Sullivan, who is presiding over the corruption trial of Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), allowed federal prosecutors to call Dave Anderson, a key witness against the senator. Anderson oversaw renovation work at Stevens’ home in Girdwood, Alaska, allegedly paid for by VECO Corp., an Alaska oil-services company. The Justice Department has indicted Stevens on charges that the accepted more than $250,000 in improper gifts from Bill Allen, former CEO of VECO, and others. Stevens allegedly did not report the gifts on his annual financial disclosure forms. Stevens jurors hear FBI tape of plotTwo friends of Sen. Ted Stevens schemed to conceal that one was paying for expensive remodeling and repairs at the senator’s cabin in Alaska, according to FBI audiotapes played Tuesday at Stevens’ corruption trial. Consulting fees paid to Stevens’ son questionedVeco Corp. executives questioned whether there would be liability for the company if the son of U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens continued to collect consulting fees without doing any work, according to court documents. Recorded conversations nearly smoking gun in Sen. Stevens caseSen. Ted Stevens’ friends went out of their way to help pay his bills, according to court testimony Tuesday, even conspiring to cover up how much money they paid for something as minor as plumbing repairs at the senator’s home in Alaska. Prosecutors Detail Sen. Stevens’ Involvement in Unpaid RenovationsFederal prosecutors Wednesday attempted to show that Sen. Ted Stevens kept close tabs on the renovation to his Girdwood, Alaska, home — a key point if they expect a jury to find him guilty of concealing $250,000 worth of free construction and other gifts. The government introduced into evidence dozens of e-mails and other correspondence, highlighting items in which Stevens discusses the progress of a massive addition that added a new first floor, two porches and a balcony to his once-modest A-frame cabin. Case Against Stevens Laid Out – Stevens Knew Veco Renovated Girdwood Chalet For Free, Schemed Not To DiscloseAs the Department of Justice prepares to rest their corruption case against Senator Ted Stevens, the jury and Alaskans heard from an FBI investigator who detailed correspondences with Stevens and the lack of disclosure of the seven years of gifts on Stevens’ Personal Financial Disclosure forms. “Ted Gets Hysterical When He Has To Spend His Own Money”Today the jury and Alaskans heard examples of Senator Ted Stevens’ scheme to not pay for renovations on his Girdwood chalet. Phone conversations between former VECO Chief Executive Bill Allen and Stevens’ close friend and neighbor Bob Persons were played to highlight that Stevens knew what was going on, but still didn’t pay for the work. |
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