Stevens: Senators Should Be Above The Law – Asks Federal Court For Special TreatmentStevens Calls For Speedy Trial, But Files Seven Motions Today Saying Federal Legislators Are Above The LawOne day after U.S. Senator Ted Stevens’ defense attorneys complained to federal prosecutors about the quantity of evidence handed over through discovery, Stevens’ expensive Washington, DC lawyers filed seven motions asserting that members of Congress are above the law and deserve special treatment. The defense explains that federal investigators should not be able to investigate Stevens or interview his staff as part of the corruption probe. While Stevens has positioned himself asking for a speedy trial to prove his innocence before Election Day, his attorneys have spent the past two days attempting to delay the trial with motions that show their legal desperation. “Not even Senator Stevens is above the law,” said Bethany Lesser, spokeswoman for the Alaska Democratic Party. “It looks like Stevens’ defense team is desperate and grasping at straws. They must not be confident in their defense. Their motions today were unprecedented. Are we to think that Senators can’t be investigated by the FBI? If Stevens really wants to prove his innocence before the general election, he might want to convey that to his lawyers, and stop filing frivolous motions.“
On July 30, Stevens was indicted on seven felony counts related to accepting illegal gifts valued at more than $250,000 from VECO. As a result of the indictment, Stevens was forced to resign his seniority on committees, including ranking member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee and ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense. The Alaska Democratic Party has called on Stevens to step down from his Senate seat, retire, and focus on his legal issues.
# # # |
 |
 |
 |