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

[the964kid]

Can anybody tell me why it is that most of us, if we had been found guilty of a crime, would begin serving time immediately after sentencing, but rich and powerful felons get to wait until their appeals process is over??

[BillMelater]

He hasn't yet been sentenced.

[Manx]

Maybe, Stevens meant that he has no convictions - or principles.

[springsm]

He was found guilty but there has not been a sentence...I assume to an ego like Stevens' ...that means he hasn't been considered a criminal. I expect also that the corruptness in Alaska Government will continue.

[MajorKong]

These Republicans are all about "tough on crime" until they get caught with their hand in the cookie jar.
I sure hope some bleeding-heart liberal judge doesn't let him off with a slap on the wrist. :)

[KarateKid]

If there was anyone deserving to be thrown under the bus, it's Stevens. Duke Cunningham has an open cell next door.

[Petey131]

You are a FELON! Take personal responsibility old man.

[cgwren]

Stevens is relying on a technical distinction between a guilty verdict and a conviction. (Whatever happened to the conservative lament about defendants invoking legal technicalities to escape accountability for their misconduct?) For instance, in Wisconsin (where I work the prosecution side of criminal law), a conviction comes into existence through a judgment of conviction. A judgment of conviction must be in writing and must include the sentence imposed by the court. Until the entry of the judgment of conviction, the defendant has been found guilty but, technically, not convicted. Whether that matters for purposes of whether a defendant in Stevens's position can vote or run for office could vary from state to state. I've done a quick check of Wisconsin law, and I haven't found any cases where the distinction has been litigated in relation to voting by a person found guilty of a felony but not yet sentenced. In any event, for a politician running for re-election, hanging the re-election campaign on this technical distinction ("Sure, a jury unanimously found me guilty of seven felonies, but that doesn't matter because technically, I still haven't been convicted, so I'm still okay") doesn't look like a strategy likely to win over most voters, even assuming the voters would understand the distinction.

[clearlythinking]

I could not believe this when I heard him. What part of guilty did he not understand. Another Alaskan who clearly has no working knowledge of our Constitution. I think Palin needs to stop giving money back to Alaskans and invest it into Civics & Government education in her public schools.

[brent777]

So he can run for office but he can't vote... LOL..

[UnderdogSRD]

and Palin wasn't guilty of an abuse of power....

The cold in alaska must make them stupid.

[sticksnstones]

This is real easy to understand,Ted :

You were charged with a number of felonies.

You went to trial, the result of which was a guilty CONVICTION on all seven charges.

Next you will be sentenced.

Many of us hope you will do time.

Any questions ?

[scottbee]

and this guy has been writing laws for a bizillion years

maybe he can ask palin how he can get travel expenses paid for his family's visits to him in the pokey

learn more about this great opportunity to gouge the public

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUMO6zc27gg

[Gidster]

Makes you wonder if he even has a working knowledge of his job.

When the judge says you are guilty on all seven counts, you have been convicted!!!!

[Haditup2here]

If or when he gets locked up -- I wonder if he would be convicted then.

[Papago12]

Do you know how many convicts are in jail that are innocent...all of them!!!

[fdeblauwe]

here's the URL: http://reasonstobecheerful3.blogspot.com/2008/10/alaska-state-of-denial.html