Stevens Argues He Has No Responsibility To Be Open And Transparent With The PublicMotion Filed By Defense Team Attempts to Keep Alaskans in the Dark Anchorage, Alaska – Yesterday, 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. “This is outrageous. How can Senator Stevens, a public servant, argue that he doesn’t need to be open and transparent with his own constituents?” said Bethany Lesser, spokeswoman for the Alaska Democratic Party. “The whole reason Senators are required to fill out disclosure forms is to inform the public of their dealings. Steven’s latest argument is a slap in the face to every Alaskan who has waited patiently for over a year for the Senator to come clean about his involvement in this matter.” In their motion filed on Monday, Stevens’ defense team contends that when it comes to financial disclosure forms, “Any such public interest is irrelevant to the charges in this case, which are and must be based on alleged false statements to the government, not the public at large.” However, the primary 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. Moreover any individual who knowingly and willfully falsifies such a report may be subject to criminal sanctions. “If Stevens lied on his Financial Disclosure Forms for seven straight years, then he also lied to Alaskans for seven straight years. And as a public official – Stevens should realize that the public always has a right to know,” Lesser said. This latest motion is in stark contrast to what Stevens has been saying to Alaska voters. Stevens told Alaskans that this trial will prove his innocence. But from his conduct at trial, you would never know. Thus far Stevens has shown no signs that he will testify to what really happened and his defense team has filed motion after motion to delay the trial and dodge the charges. Now he argues that the public doesn’t have a right to know anyway. Check out http://RetireTed.com for the latest updates on Stevens’ corruption trial and the Alaska Senate race. # # # |
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