Stevens pleads not guilty in corruption case

Republicans back away
Some Republican lawmakers — most notably presidential candidate Sen. John McCain — have distanced themselves from Stevens as the GOP gears up for November. Senate Democrats, who enjoy a 51-49 majority, want to capture a filibuster-proof 60-vote majority.

In Alaska, Stevens faces both Democratic and Republican challengers who are trying to capitalize on his legal woes. Democrats are counting on Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich, a popular figure in Alaska and a member of a well-known political family to keep Stevens from winning his seventh full term.

Stevens is accused of concealing his gifts from executives of VECO Corp., a once powerful contracting firm that used bribery and back room dealing to push favorable legislation and kill laws that were bad for the oil industry. Two executives have pleaded guilty, admitting they lavished money, gifts and campaign contributions on favored politicians and worked to keep their enemies at bay.

The former executives are cooperating with the FBI. One of them, Bill Allen, let agents tape his phone calls with the senator. The Justice Department said Thursday it has 500 gigabytes of evidence in the case, including wiretap conversations and hidden video.

The department stopped short, however, of charging Stevens with bribery or other traditional corruption charges. Despite winning cooperation from the VECO executives and searching the senator's home, prosecutors said they could not prove a this-for-that corruption case.

Stevens was booked by U.S. marshals during a break in court. He was released on bail and is free to travel inside the U.S. He was ordered to surrender his passport. If convicted, he faces up to five years in prison on each of seven counts.

His indictment is the culmination of an FBI investigation that for years has sent tremors through Alaska's political system. Several state lawmakers have been charged and others, including Stevens' son, Ben, remain under scrutiny.

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