Justice Department indicts Sen. Ted Stevens

Stevens' son also investigated
The Justice Department has closely followed that money, looking for where it intersects with the senator's son, Ben, who also is under investigation concerning financial ties to a company that stood to make millions off a piece of federal legislation his father wrote.

A lobbyist and former state senator, Ben Stevens was paid as a consultant for many in the fishing industry who benefited from legislation his father drafted.

When Ted Stevens created a $30 million marketing fund for Alaska seafood, Ben Stevens helped decide which companies got the money. Some were his clients.

Ben Stevens also had financial ties to a company that stood to make millions off a piece of federal legislation his father wrote. But he repeatedly has said he never lobbied his father and both men have dismissed such criticism for years.

Election-year battle
Stevens is facing Begich, the mayor of Anchorage, in this year's Senate contest. Democrats view his seat as one of their top pick-up opportunities.

However, before the general election, Stevens must survive a GOP primary on Aug. 26.

The Cook Political Report labels the Alaska Senate race as a "toss up."

Seven other Alaska politicians had previously been indicted in the FBI’s long-running investigation of political corruption, including state Sen. John Cowdery, chairman of the influential Legislative Council Committee. He resigned last week.

Stevens acknowledged in June 2007 that he was under investigation.

A month later, FBI agents raided his house in Girdwood, a suburb of Anchorage, after a wealthy Alaska businessman told prosecutors that he paid his employees to renovate the house.

Stevens announced last week that he would not attend next month’s Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn.

Tuesday's indictment comes a year after another Republican senator, Larry Craig of Idaho, pleaded guilty to charges arising out of a Minneapolis airport men's room sex sting.

The last sitting senator to be indicted in federal court was Republican Sen. David Durenberger of Minnesota, who was charged in 1993 with conspiring to file fraudulent claims for Senate reimbursement of $3,825 in lodging expenses. He eventually pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges and was sentenced to one year of probation and a $1,000 fine.

In the Stevens case, Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Friedrich, chief of the Justice Department's criminal division, said prosecutors followed their policy of keeping politics out of the decision-making process.

"We bring cases based on our evaluation of the facts and the law," Friedrich said. "We bring cases when they are ready to be charged, and that's what happened here."

MORE FROM CAPITOL HILL

Capitol Hill Section Front

Sources: Reid eyes payroll tax rise on high earners Catholic bishops shape health care bill Injured vets sign on for duty in Congress Of bats and billions: Following stimulus funds As stimulus funds trickle down, debate heats up GOP lawmaker feels effects of health vote Abortion could roil Senate health care debate Bill Clinton urges passage of health care bill Flight attendants closer to getting leave benefits Rough road ahead for health care in Senate Capitol Hill Section Front   Add Capitol Hill headlines to your news reader: