Skip to content

Stevens Guilty on 7 Counts

Updated: 4:28 p.m.

Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) was found guilty on all seven corruption counts on Monday by a jury that deliberated for less than a day.

Stevens was charged with filing false statements over an eight-year period to conceal the receipt of more than $250,000 in gifts — primarily in the form of renovations to his home in Girdwood, Alaska — from the now-defunct oil company VECO and its chief executive officer, Bill Allen.

The judge has put off a decision on when Stevens will be sentenced.

The government’s case against Stevens was based on the premise that he knew he was receiving items of worth and that he chose not to report those gifts on his annual disclosure forms because he wanted to avoid public scrutiny.

The jury began deliberating the case on Wednesday, but one juror’s father died suddenly Thursday night, and Judge Emmet Sullivan suspended deliberations on Friday.

On Sunday, Sullivan decided to replace the mourning juror with an alternate.

On Monday morning, he called the alternate juror and asked her whether she still felt able to judge the case fairly. She said she could.

He then directed the jury to “start deliberations anew,” though he said it was up to the jury to decide what that means.

By 3:30 p.m., the jury alerted the court that it had a verdict.

Just after 4 p.m., the foreman intoned seven unanimous guilty verdicts on the following counts.

Count 1:

A scheme to knowingly and willfully conceal material facts from the Senate Select Committee on Ethics through a deliberate plan. This charge relates to all of the Senator’s financial disclosure forms between 2000 and 2006.

Count 2:

False statements on Stevens’ financial disclosure form for calendar year 2001. This charge involves gifts from or liabilities to Bill Allen, VECO, Bob Persons and Robert Penney. Among the items the government alleged that Stevens accepted as unreported gifts in this year are the services of an architect and other VECO employees, major renovations on Stevens’ home, a Viking gas grill, an electric massage chair and other items.

Count 3:

False statements on the Senator’s financial disclosure form for calendar year 2002. This charge involves gifts from or liabilities to Bill Allen, VECO, Robert Penney and others. Among the items the government alleged that Stevens accepted as unreported gifts in this year are a lower deck with a plastic roof, extensive holiday lighting and a sculpture of salmon worth at least $29,000, which Stevens said was a gift to his foundation. This charge may include any liabilities carried over from prior years.

Count 4:

False statements on the Senator’s financial disclosure form for calendar year 2003. This charge involves gifts from or liabilities to Bill Allen, VECO, Robert Penney. The government alleges that Stevens accepted a sled dog worth about $1,000, but filed to report its true value and its true source. This charge may include any liabilities carried over from prior years.

Count 5:

False statements on the Senator’s financial disclosure form for calendar year 2004. This charge involves gifts from or liabilities to Bill Allen and VECO. Among the items the government alleged that Stevens accepted as unreported gifts in this year are household appliances and a heat tape system for melting snow on his roof. This charge may include any liabilities carried over from prior years.

Count 6:

False statements on the Senator’s financial disclosure form for calendar year 2005. This charge involves gifts from or liabilities to Bill Allen and VECO. Among the items the government alleged that Stevens accepted as unreported gifts in this year are roof repairs and electrical work. This charge may include any liabilities carried over from prior years.

Count 7:

False statements on the Senator’s financial disclosure form for calendar year 2006. This charge involves gifts from or liabilities to Bill Allen and VECO. The government alleges that Stevens accepted free plumbing services which he did not report as a gift. This charge may include any liabilities carried over from prior years.

Recent Stories

Muslim American appeals court nominee loses Democratic support

At the Races: Lieberman lookback

Court says South Carolina can use current congressional map

Joseph Lieberman: A Capitol life in photos

‘Take the money and run’: Obama, Clinton to raise campaign cash for Biden at A-list NYC event

Cole considered early favorite to win House Appropriations gavel