Stevens to continue campaign

Senator Ted Stevens was indicted yesterday on corruption charges by a federal grand jury in Washington DC. He has been indicted on 7 counts of failing to disclose thousands of dollars in services he received from a company that helped renovate his home in Girdwood. The 28-page indictment does NOT include any bribery charges.

From May 1999 to August 2007, prosecutors said the senator concealed thousands of dollars worth of things of value from a private corporation. That private corporation is VECO.

Prosecutors say that Stevens took multiple steps to continue receiving things from the oil service company and its founder, Bill Allen. VECO’s requests included funding and other aid for VECO”s projects and partnerships in Pakistan and Russia. It also included federal grants from several agencies.

Stevens did not disclose the alleged gifts on his federal financial disclosure forms.

Senator Stevens released a statement yesterday stating he is innocent of the charges and intends to prove it. He said in the statement that he has proudly served the nation and Alaska for over 50 years and it saddens him to learn that charges have been brought against him. He says he has never knowingly submitted a false disclosure form required by law as a US Senator.

Pollsters are now speculating on Stevens chance to win this falls election. Stevens’ re-election campaign Tuesday afternoon released a statement saying the Stevens’ Campaign for Re-election is continuing to move full steam ahead. They said the office has been flooded with calls and emails from supporters urging the Senator to press on.

• Read the formal indictment (PDF)