BREAKING NEWS: U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens indicted on criminal charges, U.S. officials say
Whoa. More as we get it.
Update: Reuters says that Stevens is being hit with seven counts; CNN reports that the seven counts are all related to false statements made to investigators. The New York Times clears it up:
Mr. Stevens, 84, was indicted on seven counts of falsely reporting income. The charges are related to renovations on his home and to gifts he has received. They arise from an investigation that has been under way for more than a year, in connection with the senator's relationship with a businessman who oversaw the home-remodeling project.
Update II: Some have asked if Ted Stevens is in danger of losing his primary. He has five opponents in that race (the filing deadline was on June 2nd), none of them formidable. It's important to note that Vic Vickers, who plans to spend $750K of his own cash against Stevens, is a total carpetbagger who just moved to Alaska from Florida in January. If he pulls off a miracle and beats Stevens in the primary, I like Begich's chances against him. In fact, I like Begich's chances against anyone the GOP nominates here, unless perhaps Sarah Palin (who has her own problems) pulls a switcheroo -- and even then, I doubt that Stevens would let her. He's a stubborn sumbitch with a big ego; would he really want to step down?
The most immediate takeaway I have from this is that Don Young is now absolutely doomed in his primary against Sean Parnell; the anti-incumbent sentiment will be running high next month, and I doubt that even vote-splitting with Gabrielle LeDoux could save Young's hide. I still think Berkowitz would have a solid shot at the seat. These scandals are tainting not only Young and Stevens, but the GOP brand itself in Alaska. Sean Parnell is a blank page with no real accomplishments of his own, and he's weakened in recent weeks due to Palin's abuse of power kerfuffle and his desire to hide from cover rather than face voters.
