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[[Image:Ted Stevens.jpg|right|thumb|Ted Stevens]]

[[Image:Ted Stevens.jpg|right|thumb|Ted Stevens]]

'''Theodore Fulton "Ted" Stevens''' (born November 18, 1923, died August 9, 2010) is a former [[United States Senate|United States Senator]] from [[Alaska]]. He is a [[liberal]] [[Republican Party|Republican]] having a pro-[[abortion]] voting record.  Among [[conservatives]] he is known as a "[[RINO]]" who has long favored more government spending, particularly for his own state.<ref>Stevens' lifetime ACU rating is only 64.45, far lower than [[John McCain]]'s rating of 82.16.  Most [[conservatives]] rank over 90 on this rating.</ref>

'''Theodore Fulton "Ted" Stevens''' (November 18, 1923 – August 9, 2010) is a former [[United States Senate|United States Senator]] from [[Alaska]]. He is a [[liberal]] [[Republican Party|Republican]] having a pro-[[abortion]] voting record.  Among [[conservatives]] he is known as a "[[RINO]]" who has long favored more government spending, particularly for his own state.<ref>Stevens' lifetime ACU rating is only 64.45, far lower than [[John McCain]]'s rating of 82.16.  Most [[conservatives]] rank over 90 on this rating.</ref>

As the longest serving [[Republican]] in the Senate, Stevens served as President pro tempore of the United States Senate from January 3, 2003, to January 3, 2007. Stevens chaired the Senate [[Appropriations Committee]] from 1997 to 2005, except for the 18 months when [[Democrat]]s controlled the chamber. The chairmanship gave Stevens considerable influence over fellow Senators, who relied on him for home-state project funds.

As the longest serving [[Republican]] in the Senate, Stevens served as President pro tempore of the United States Senate from January 3, 2003, to January 3, 2007. Stevens chaired the Senate [[Appropriations Committee]] from 1997 to 2005, except for the 18 months when [[Democrat]]s controlled the chamber. The chairmanship gave Stevens considerable influence over fellow Senators, who relied on him for home-state project funds.

On July 29, 2008, Stevens was indicted on 7 felony counts related to making false statements in relation to a Justice Department investigation of business dealings in Alaska. Senator [[Arlen Specter]] expressed the disbelief and dismay felt by many in reaction to the bogus charges, "I've known Ted Stevens for 28 years and I've always known him to be impeccably honest. I don't know that there's a stronger comment to be made than that."<ref>[http://abcnews.go.com/print?id=5472829 Republican Senator Indicted for Allegedly Lying on Financial Disclosure Forms], Jake Tapper and Theresa Cook, ABCNews, July 29, 2008</ref>

On July 29, 2008, Stevens was indicted on 7 felony counts related to making false statements in relation to a Justice Department investigation of business dealings in Alaska. Senator [[Arlen Specter]] expressed the disbelief and dismay felt by many in reaction to the bogus charges, "I've known Ted Stevens for 28 years and I've always known him to be impeccably honest. I don't know that there's a stronger comment to be made than that."<ref>[http://abcnews.go.com/print?id=5472829 Republican Senator Indicted for Allegedly Lying on Financial Disclosure Forms], Jake Tapper and Theresa Cook, ABCNews, July 29, 2008</ref>

According to Republican Senate caucus rules, Stevens resigned from his post as ranking member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee.  On October 27, Stevens was found guilty on all 7 counts of corruption. On April 1, 2009, the Justice department filed a motion to drop its case against Stevens. Attorney General [[Eric Holder]] decided to abandon the case due to prosecutorial misconduct. <ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/04/01/doj-sources-say-case-dropped-ex-sen-ted-stevens/ Justice Department Files Motion to Drop Case Against Former Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens], Mike Levine, ''FOXNews.com'', April 01, 2009</ref> <ref>[http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=102589818 Justice Dept. Seeks To Void Stevens' Conviction], Nina Totenberg, ''NPR'', April 01, 2009</ref>

According to Republican Senate caucus rules, Stevens resigned from his post as ranking member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee.  On October 27, Stevens was found guilty on all 7 counts of corruption. On April 1, 2009, the Justice department filed a motion to drop its case against Stevens. Attorney General [[Eric Holder]] decided to abandon the case due to prosecutorial misconduct.<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/04/01/doj-sources-say-case-dropped-ex-sen-ted-stevens/ Justice Department Files Motion to Drop Case Against Former Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens], Mike Levine, ''FOXNews.com'', April 01, 2009</ref><ref>[http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=102589818 Justice Dept. Seeks To Void Stevens' Conviction], Nina Totenberg, ''NPR'', April 01, 2009</ref>

On August 9, 2010, Ted Stevens died in a small plane crash along with five others. <ref>http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/08/10/national/main6760221.shtml</ref>  This was not the first plane crash he had been in, in 1978 his first wife, Ann Mary, died in a plane crash that also left him with lasting injuries <ref>http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-alaska-crash-past-20100811,0,7987348.story</ref>.

On August 9, 2010, Ted Stevens died in a small plane crash along with five others.<ref>http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/08/10/national/main6760221.shtml</ref>  This was not the first plane crash he had been in, in 1978 his first wife, Ann Mary, died in a plane crash that also left him with lasting injuries.<ref>http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-alaska-crash-past-20100811,0,7987348.story</ref>

==Early years==

==Early years==

== Legal Troubles ==

== Legal Troubles ==

In July of 2008, Stevens was indicted on charges of taking gifts from the oil servicing company VECO and its CEO Bill Allen who benefited from his legislation. Stevens' son Ben, the leader of the state senate, and other state politicians have also been implicated in corruption related to VECO.<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/politics/2008/07/31/vo.stevens.court.depart.cnn?iref=videosearch Stevens pleads not guilty]</ref>

In July 2008, Stevens was indicted on charges of taking gifts from the oil servicing company VECO and its CEO Bill Allen who benefited from his legislation. Stevens' son Ben, the leader of the state senate, and other state politicians have also been implicated in corruption related to VECO.<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/politics/2008/07/31/vo.stevens.court.depart.cnn?iref=videosearch Stevens pleads not guilty]</ref>

On October 27th, 2008, Stevens was convicted on seven counts of corruption, after a highly politicized trial that attempted to learn the extent of his dealings.

On October 27, 2008, Stevens was convicted on seven counts of corruption, after a highly politicized trial that attempted to learn the extent of his dealings.

Stevens, however, vowed to continue his bid.  On November 18th, Stevens' 85th birthday, the final vote tallies showed that Democrat Mark Begich had won the election by a narrow margin.<ref>[http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/stevens Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens loses re-election bid]</ref>

Stevens, however, vowed to continue his bid.  On November 18, Stevens' 85th birthday, the final vote tallies showed that Democrat Mark Begich had won the election by a narrow margin.<ref>[http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/stevens Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens loses re-election bid]</ref>

Stevens' conviction was later overturned after U.S. Attorney General [[Eric Holder]] requested the presiding Judge to vacate the conviction because of prosecutorial misconduct.

Stevens' conviction was later overturned after U.S. Attorney General [[Eric Holder]] requested the presiding Judge to vacate the conviction because of prosecutorial misconduct.

==References==

==References==

== External links ==

== External links ==

*[http://www.publicknowledge.org/node/497 "Series of Tubes" speech]

*[http://www.publicknowledge.org/node/497 "Series of Tubes" speech]

{{DEFAULTSORT: Stevens, Ted}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stevens, Ted}}

[[Category:Former United States Senators]]

[[Category:Former United States Senators]]

[[Category:RINOs]]

[[Category:RINOs]]

[[Category: 110th United States Congress]]

[[Category:110th United States Congress]]

[[Category:Alaska]]

[[Category:Alaska]]

[[Category:Liberals]]

[[Category:Liberals]]