Alaska Senator Ted Stevens Convicted

Written by: DFA Staff on Oct 29, 2008 8:00 PM EDT

Alaska Senior Senator Ted Stevens was convicted of violating federal ethics laws on Monday for failing to report gifts and services worth over $250,000.   Amazingly, Stevens has said that he will not drop out of the race, despite requests from the GOP ticket to do so.

Stevens is in the middle of a hotly contested Senate race with Anchorage mayor, Mark Begich.  Begich did not address the conviction directly, but said,

"This has been a very difficult year for Alaskans, and a long year… I believe Alaskans will move forward because we have many critical issues and challenges ahead of us to deal with."

So, a convicted felon can’t vote in some states, but they can hold a government office and collect a pension provided by taxpayers worth $122,000 a year.  Ted Stevens should do the honorable thing:  resign, and forgo his pension.

-Mari Diouf, Political Intern

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