BREAKING NEWS: U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens indicted on criminal charges, U.S. officials say

[IDemo]

Justice Department indicts Alaska senator

NBC News
updated 2 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - U.S. officials say the Justice Department has indicted Alaska Senator Ted Stevens on charges related to a long-running investigation of business dealings in Alaska.

Stevens, who has served in the U.S. Senate for 40 years, is up for re-election this year, and Democrats view his seat as one of their top pick-up opportunities.

His Democratic challenger is Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich.
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However, before the general election, Stevens must survive a GOP primary that occurs on August 26.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25916299/

[MiniMe]

1. I'd love to know what they are. Wonder what that will do to his

re-election bid?

[malaise]

8. GEM$NBC spinning already

This is huge!!

[Avalux]

2. WHOA!!! Excellent.

Can't wait to hear all the juicy details. :applause:

[HughBeaumont]

3. Mr Intertubes!!

Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy!

[spinbaby]

4. Nothing to see here, move along, move along

Evening news will just ignore it.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

5. YOW! Slammin'!

I guess The Hulk won't be doing a lot of smashing now.

Fuck him and the horse he is riding out upon.

[AlCzervik]

6. did they need a dump truck for all the paperwork or did it fit in a series of tubes?

haha, you're indicted.

[kestrel91316]

7. Hmmmm - isn't he a (insert drumroll here)..........

Republican???????

[trashcanistanista]

9. DOJ will release details in about 20 minutes.

Christmas in July! From Pete Williams on MSNBC: he HAS been indicted, investigation of his biz dealings and his son. Charges brought by Justice, IRS and Public Integrity Section. Charges deal with statements to investigators by Stevens and less with public corruption charges. Stevens has denied from beginning he has done anything wrong in accepting the lobbyist favors. His office didn't see this comming! Surprise surprise!

[Breeze54]

10. Yeah !! - "hiding hundreds of thousands of dollars in gifts"

:woohoo: :woohoo:

Alaska Senator Ted Stevens Charged in Corruption Case (Update2)

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=a3alQ969wUB0&refer=home

By Robert Schmidt
Enlarge Image/Details

July 29 (Bloomberg) --

Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska, the longest serving Republican in the U.S. Senate, was indicted by a federal grand jury in Washington on charges of hiding hundreds of thousands of dollars in gifts he received.

Stevens, 84, was charged with seven counts of making false statements on his Senate financial disclosure forms from 1999 to 2006 about gifts and renovations on his house.

Stevens's indictment boosts Democratic chances of winning an Alaska Senate seat for the first time in almost three decades, if he remains a candidate. ``If Stevens is on the ballot I would expect Democrats to win the seat,'' said Nathan Gonzales of the Rothenberg Political Report.

Stevens ``knowingly and willfully engaged in a scheme to conceal'' his receipt of ``hundreds of thousands of dollars'' of gifts from Veco Corp., an oil-field engineering firm, and its chief executive officer, the indictment said.

The gifts included improvements on a home in Alaska, new vehicles, furniture and a professional Viking gas grill, according to court papers.

Stevens used ``his official position and his office on behalf of Veco,'' the indictment said. The company and Stevens discussed funding requests for international projects and partnerships, requests for grants and contracts to benefit the company, and his assistance with an effort to construct a natural gas pipeline, the court papers said.

Stevens has served in the Senate since 1968 and has held some of its most powerful positions, including chairmanships of the Appropriations and Commerce committees. He is known for funneling millions of federal dollars to projects in Alaska.

Stevens's office in Alaska referred calls to Washington- based spokesman Steve Wackowski, who wasn't immediately available.

To contact the reporter on this story: Robert Schmidt in Washington at [e-mail].



K & R

[ProgressiveFool]

11. wow, looks like the US Attorney purge missed one! /nt

[Maggie_May]

12. Couldnt happen to a nicer guy

I bet our Senator Byrd has a huge smile on his face. I will miss these two go at on the floor though. These old coots were fun to watch when they went at it. Oh Mr. Byrd so glad you live to see your friend get what he deserves.