Senator Stevens Indicted

Shameful.

WASHINGTON (CNN)—Sen. Ted Stevens declared his innocence Tuesday after his indictment on charges that he concealed hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of gifts and services from a company in his home state.

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The indictment, returned Tuesday by a federal grand jury in Washington, says the veteran lawmaker “schemed to conceal” the fact that Veco paid for hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of work on his home.

The indictment follows a wide-ranging investigation into ties between the company and lawmakers in Alaska.

The indictment does not accuse Stevens of accepting bribes, Matt Friedrich, the acting assistant attorney general, emphasized in a news conference announcing the charges.

“Bribery is not charged in this case,” he said, adding that such a charge “requires proof of a specific quid pro quo. This indictment does not allege that.”

Stevens should resign immediately.  If he is acquitted, he can run for election again.