Stevens trial to begin before election

The criminal trial for Sen. Ted Stevens will begin just weeks before the November election, Judge Emmet G. Sullivan announced Thursday.

Jury selection is scheduled to begin Sept. 24 for the trial of the Alaska Republican, who was indicted Tuesday on seven felony counts for allegedly concealing $250,000 in gifts from an oil services company. The judge said the case could start sooner, or a couple days later, depending on whether other trials affect his schedule. But the judge said the date was "reasonably firm."

{mosads}Stevens wants the court to "clear his name" before voters decide whether to send the longest-serving Senate Republican back to the upper chamber for a seventh full term, his lawyer Brendan Sullivan told the court Thursday. The lawyer said the case could conclude in a matter of days, but government prosecutor Brenda Morris said the trial should take about three weeks. That means the trail will likely consume much of October and could jolt the outcome of his reelection bid in November.

Stevens wants the trial to take place in Alaska, where his attorney said 90 percent of the 30-40 witnesses live. But the government opposes that motion, and says the witnesses can easily make it to Washington.

Stevens is a legend in Alaska, and a home-state venue could be favorable to him. It also could allow him to campaign in October, when Congress will likely be on recess.

The defense will file a motion to transfer venues to Alaska on Aug. 4, giving the government a week to respond. The defense will have two days to respond to the government's filings. A court hearing on the the transfer motion will be held on Aug. 19.

The government will provide the "bulk" of the evidence next week to Stevens's attorneys, Morris said, including videotapes and audiotapes. Both sides have until Aug. 14 to file further motions on the case. The court will hold a Sept. 10 hearing on all the pending motions.

Stevens gave up his passport, but was released without other restrictions. He can leave the country on official government business only if the judge accepts a petition for him to do so. Stevens did not address the court or reporters, leaving in a black sedan with tinted windows with his daugher and wife by his side.