Stevens will not seek presidential pardon

Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens (R) said Tuesday that he will not seek a pardon from President Bush for his recent conviction on federal charges of concealing gifts and home renovations from an oil executive.

Stevens said the conviction, along with his likely expulsion from the Republican Party, is hurtful, but he won’t seek special treatment from the White House.

{mosads}Republican senators held back on voting on a motion to expel Stevens but are expected to follow through on that motion later in the week.

“I wouldn’t wish what I’m going through on anyone — my worst enemy, OK?” Stevens said after a short bathroom break outside the Senate Republican Conference meeting. “Look, I haven’t had a night’s sleep now for almost four months, all right? And I went home even during the trial and came to the Senate the night after the trial. I’ve been living about three different lives.”

Stevens, who turned 85 on Tuesday, told reporters that he had not yet addressed his Republican colleagues in the closed-door meeting.

Stevens simply said “No” when asked about a Bush pardon, and bristled when a reporter asked if he expected to be expelled as a political liability to Republicans battling an image of corruption.

“That’s just your words,” he said. “As a matter of fact, when the indictment was announced, they said it was not a corruption case, it was not a bribery case. It was a simple matter of failing to disclose. Maybe some of the verbiage that you are using is not proper.”

Senate Republicans are meeting to determine their leadership and a variety of motions. Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) had intended to offer a motion expelling Stevens from the conference, but postponed it until Thursday just minutes after Tuesday morning’s meeting began.

“I don’t like to use the word ‘pleased,’ but I’m happy with that,” Stevens said of the delay.

Stevens said his race in Alaska won’t be final until Nov. 25, and that he remains confident of victory. He is currently trailing Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich (D) by more than 1,000 votes.

“I still think I’m going to win,” he said.

Stevens said he expects the Republican Party will ask for a recount in the race, given the narrow margin.

Although DeMint’s statement said the expulsion motion has only been postponed until Thursday, Stevens said he believes it will be delayed until after the election is final.