Another Republican Politician Indicted

After a long investigation whose results are no surprise, Alaska Senator Ted Stevens, the longest serving U.S. Republican senator ever, once third in line for the presidency,was indicted on seven counts of making false statements. According to a 28-page federal grand jury indictment he failed to disclose thousands of dollars in services he received from a company that helped renovate his home.

The investigation has been under way for more than a year. Stevens, the first sitting U.S. senator to face federal indictment since 1993, has been dogged by a federal investigation into his home renovation project and whether he pushed for fishing legislation that also benefited his son, an Alaska lobbyist.

From May 1999 to August 2007, prosecutors said, the senator concealed his continuing receipt of hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of things of value from a private corporation.

The 84-year old Stevens is up for reelection this November, and Repubs on the Hill are shaking in their boots no doubt as you are reading this. Ancorage mayor (D) Mark Begich is running against him.