Stevens: Maybe a Fine, Maybe Some Jail

APRN reports: Jurors in the trial of Alaska Senator Ted Stevens heard audio recordings of conversations between Stevens and former Veco CEO Bill Allen. Allen was put on the stand by government prosecutors to build a case against Stevens for allegedly accepting more than $250,000 in gifts. One of the recorded calls, made in October 2006, Stevens told Allen:

The worst that can happen to us is we run up a bunch of legal fees, and might lose and we might have to pay a fine, might have to serve some time in jail. I hope to Christ it never gets to that. ... I don't think we have done anything wrong.

Stevens is up for re-election next month. Alaska Governor and VP nominee Sarah Palin has thus far declined to make an endorsement in the race. NPR's Ken Rudin currently predicts that Democrat Mark Begich will win the seat that Stevens has held since 1968.

-- Michael Olson

7:23 AM ET | 10- 7-2008 | permalink

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