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The Verdict

A Washington jury found Senator Ted Stevens guilty on all seven counts of failing to report gifts. The 84 year-old senator has represented Alaska for 40 years, and is up for re-election next week.
  The senator betrayed little emotion as the verdict was read, but he appeared tired and lowered his head as the jury foreman answered the first of seven "guilty"s.

Closing Arguments

Lawyers for both sides argued for nearly six hours yesterday to the jury in the trial of Senator Ted Stevens, who is accused of failing to report gifts he received.
Referring to the massage chair prosecutor Joseph Bottini asked : "Does anyone really believe he thought that chair was a loan?. What were the terms of this loan? Zero percent interest for 84 months?"
Senator Stevens' attorney, Brendan Sullivan, told the jurors : "Without sufficient evidence, the government comes here late in the night of a good man's life and tries to brand him a criminal."

After being instructed in the law by the judge the jury began their deliberations, or maybe ordered lunch, at 11:58 today.

AP story here.

What's a gift?

Testimony in the trial of Alaska Senator Ted Stevens concluded today with prosecutor Brenda Morris interrogating the senator about a massage chair given to him by a friend.

Morris: That chair, it's still in your house?
Stevens: Yes.
Morris: How is that not a gift?
Stevens: He bought that chair as a gift, but I refused it as a gift. He put it there and said it was my chair. I told him I would not accept it as a gift. We have lots of things in our house that don't belong to us.
Morris: So, if you say it's not a gift, it's not a gift?

Closing arguments tomorrow. The jury to begin deliberations on Wednesday.

NYT story here.

“My bottom wasn’t bare, ma’am,”

Part of Senator Stevens' defense against the accusation that he did not report expensive improvements to his Alaska "chalet" is that he never received a bill.  Prosecutor Brenda Sullivan, referring to emails in which the senator discussed billing, suggested that the emails were sent just “to cover your bottom?” "My bottom wasn't bare, ma'am," the crusty 84 year-old "lion of the Senate" shot back.

Cross-examination of the senator continues Monday. Closing arguments are expected on Tuesday.

Washington Post story here.

Urbina Frees the Uighurs

Applause erupted in a packed courtroom today after Judge Ricardo Urbina ordered the government to bring 17 Chinese Muslims held at Guantanamo for the past seven years into his courtroom at 10am Friday.  The Uighur detainees, whom the government concedes are not enemy combatants, have no country willing to take them in, and return to China would likely mean imprisonment or worse.

Judge further ordered that the Uighurs are not to be questioned or detained by immigration officials. “Nothing will happen to these people,” he said.

The government is likely to seek a stay of the order from the Court of Appeals.

Washington Post story is here.

Fireworks at Stevens Trial

Expecting a long day of testimony from a single witness and the playing of wiretap tapes, we were taken by surprise when Sen. Stevens' attorney, Brendan Sullivan, launched into a theatrical explosion of outrage and indignation.  He had reason: the government had not, until the late the previous night, turned over a portion of FBI interview notes where Bill Allen says that had he billed him for the improvements to his home Ted Stevens would have paid.

An argument between Brendan Sullivan and prosecutor Brenda Morris quickly escalated. “He called me out, Judge,” Ms. Morris protested “I hear a lot of noise coming from Mr. Sullivan.”

Judge Emmet Sullivan turned down the defense's calls for dismissal or mistrial. The trial resumes on Monday.

Washington Post story here.

Sen. Stevens' Boot Camp Buddy

Bill Allen, the government's star witness in its case against Alaska Senator Ted Stevens, described "boot camp" trips with the senator  to resorts where they would hike and lose weight : “No hard liquor,” he said. “Just some wine.”

Allen's testimony resumes today, and the government has indicated that they may wrap up their case as soon as Thursday.

NYT story here.