Stevens Says He Hasn't Yet Been Convicted

FAIRBANKS, Alaska — Sen. Ted Stevens says he is not a convicted felon, at least until the appeal process is over.

"I've not been convicted yet," the Alaska Republican insisted Thursday in a meeting with the editorial board of the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. "There's not a black mark by my name yet, until the appeal is over and I am finally convicted, if that happens. If that happens, of course I'll do what's right for Alaska and for the Senate ... I don't anticipate it happening, and until it happens I do not have a black mark."

A federal court jury on Monday convicted Stevens on seven counts of lying on Senate disclosure forms to conceal more than $250,000 in gifts and renovations to his home from VECO Corp. founder Bill Allen.

Stevens, the longest serving Republican in the U.S. Senate, is seeking re-election in Tuesday's election, and faces a formidable challenger in Democrat Mark Begich, the mayor of Anchorage.

There have been growing calls among Republican leaders for Stevens to resign, including from GOP presidential candidate John McCain and his running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

Stevens dismissed that as "statements made on the trail, in the heat of battle."

Alaska's junior senator, Republican Lisa Murkowski, sat with Stevens in the editorial board meeting and was more critical of Republicans turning on Stevens.

"For all of them, it's a very close election. I think they're looking to their own political skin. If it helps them in their effort to gain re-election, they will, unfortunately, throw Ted under the bus," she said.

Comments

[Geoffreys]

Only seems fair. Ordinary people convicted of felonies are free to go about their business until they've exhausted every chance of appeal. It's only fair then that Sen. Stevens be allowed to do the same thing.

I'm glad he's not just making things up as he goes along - it would be so unlike a Republican leader to do anything of the sort ...

[LMT]

Actually, most "ordinary" people would have been thrown into the jail directly from the courtroom where the jury pronounced them "guilty".

[NCarolina]

Sen. Stevens must believe a jury has no legal authority over him.

"Convict" means to find or prove someone guilty of a crime by the verdict of a court: The jury convicted Sen Stevens.

[LazarusLong]

"I've not been convicted yet,..."

bullsh*t

Yes, you can appeal your conviction, but you have been CONVICTED.

[emmaspeaks]

That's right. An appeal, over turns the conviction, not puts it off. Otherwise, why are there appeals from felons in jail?

[LiberalDemIda]

Senator Stevens, you have been convicted on 7 counts by a jury of your peers. You have a right to appeal, and fight based on minor procedural rules, but make no mistake - YOU'VE BEEN CONVICTED so once again, you're lying to save your political butt.

Will Alaskans fall for it come this election?

[holyhandgrenaid]

There must be something funny in the Alaskan GOP Koolaid... both Palin and Stevens have claimed the exact opposite of the conclusions delivered by juries/investigations.

[Observ8orGaMi]

How many delusional Alaskan politicians drenched in scandal can there be? I am starting to see a pattern here.

[fireW]

Of course, to a republican a conviction isn't a conviction. Do we all forget just a month or so ago when the repub attorney general stated the "just because a few laws were broken doesn't mean crimes were commited". These idiots are insane.

[considerthis]

How Republican of him - just make up new rules as you go along.............

[Beka13]

TI and Ted Stevens...two felons who were able to vote.

[smoovejef]

TI did his time, let Stevens do his.

[Sweetie4Obama]

I think TI doesn't start serving his time until March.