Sen. Ted Stevens' Corruption Case Moves Forward As Judge Denies Dismissal

September 10, 2008 6:45 p.m. EST

Washington, D.C. (AHN) - A federal judge has denied a motion to dismiss a corruption case against Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK). The 84-year-old Stevens, the Senate's longest serving Republican, may go to trial within weeks on seven charges primarily linked to gifts from an oil company.

Jury selection is set for September 22, only weeks away from November and his reelection bid. Nonetheless, U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan told the court as he denied the dismissal that "the defendant asked for a speedy trial, and a speedy trial is what the defendant will get."

Stevens' lawyers argued that the charges should be dropped since they involved not informing the U.S. Senate of gifts and as a result the senator should be charged for violating procedure, not committing a crime. Prosecutors allege he received hundreds of thousands of dollars in gifts and home renovations from oil pipeline company VECO Corp.

VECO founder Bill Allen pleaded guilty to bribery and corruption charges and is now cooperating with federal authorities in the Stevens case. He is set to testify against Stevens when the trial begins, saying his firm intentionally gave money in violation of federal election laws.

According to the Anchorage Daily News, Sullivan is also expected to issue additional rulings. The first, on whether evidence in the case violates constitutional separations keeping lawmakers from being prosecuted for their legislative actions. The second involves whether prosecutors can introduce other evidence, including showing that Stevens hid a $31,000 loan from a friend.