Ted Stevens pleads not guilty, hopes "unusually speedy trial date" will "clear his name" before Nov.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/07/31/alaska-senator-ted-steven_n_116148.html



Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska arrives at Federal Court in Washington, Thursday, July 31, 2008, for his arraignment. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

WASHINGTON — Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens pleaded not guilty to corruption charges Thursday and received an unusually speedy trial date, which he hopes will clear his name before voters consider re-electing him in November.

Stevens, a Capitol Hill bulldozer accustomed to winning political battles, wrangled control of the normally sluggish judicial process. The Senate's longest-serving Republican faces a tough re-election fight and made it clear Thursday that he does not want his seven-count indictment getting in the way.

"He'd like to clear his name before the election," attorney Brendan Sullivan told U.S. District Judge Emmet G. Sullivan. Sullivan added: "This is not a complex case. It should be one that moves quickly."

The Justice Department accuses Stevens of lying on congressional disclosure documents about more than $250,000 in gifts and home renovations he received over seven years from a powerful oil field services contractor.

Prosecutors said they had no problem going to trial swiftly.

"That is absolutely fine," prosecutor Brenda K. Morris said.

Sullivan set a tentative Sept. 24 trial date.

"I understand why the senator would like to have this matter commenced and concluded before the elections, and by all indications, that is possible," the judge said.

[AlCzervik]

1. Go gettim Teddy, drag this shit out in public for as long as possible!

[drmeow]

2. A speedy trial also means he could be

found guilty before the election!

[AlCzervik]

3. hopefully it will start in Mid October. can't wait for discovery.

[NoGOPZone]

4. Then Alaska can build a Bridge to the Big House just for Ted nt

[Arctic Dave]

5. I guess some people are more equal then others.

There are a lot of people I could think of that would love a speedy and fair trial. Unfortunately, ted the turd keeps voting to keep them incarcerated

[riverdeep]

6. And this perfectly follows the Republican template of going kicking and screaming

instead of actually admitting you did wrong. Tom DeLay, Karl Rove, Libby, Larry Craig, notice they're also all free.