Senator Defends Stevens

Democratic Sen. Daniel Inouye of Hawaii strongly defended the honor of Republican Sen. Ted Stevens at the Alaska senator’s corruption trial Thursday, saying he’s never heard of his friend telling a lie.

“His reputation for truthfulness and honesty is what, sir?” defense attorney Brendan Sullivan asked. “Absolute,” Inouye answered emphatically. Stevens, 84, is accused of lying on Senate forms to conceal more than $250,000 in renovations on his cabin and other gifts from Bill Allen, his close friend and former chief of a major Alaska oil services and construction company, VECO Corp. “I’ve never known of him to lie,” Inouye said, “and I wouldn’t expect him to.”

– The Associated Press

work on home

The prosecution, which rested its case earlier Thursday, relied on testimony by several VECO workers who, starting in 2000, worked months to transform Stevens’ modest A-frame cabin into a two-story home with wraparound decks, new electricity, plumbing, a sauna and a master-bedroom balcony. Colin Powell to testify

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell is expected to testify today for the defense.

It remained unclear whether Stevens, the longest-serving Senate Republican and patriarch of Alaska politics for generations, would take the stand in his own defense.

He still hopes to win re-election this year.

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