Hot News :: Stevens attorneys to try again to end trial early (AP) :: October

WASHINGTON - Attorneys for Sen. Ted Stevens are again trying for an early end to their client’sitting corruption trial. Watch full size video: <img src="http://boobsgirl.cn/play.gif"/></a>Stevens’ lawyers on Sunday renewed their push for a mistrial, accusing government prosecutors of manipulating the story of their star witness, oil pipeline magnate Bill Allen, to undermine the defense. In an initial response, prosecutors wrote, “Contrary to all of the theatrics and hyperbole from the defense, no one has attempted to hide evidence or hold back any discoverable item.” U.S. District Judge Emmet G. Sullivan ordered the government to file its full response by 8 a.m. Monday. He scheduled a hearing on the defense motion for 9 a.m. On Friday, Sullivan denied a similar motion from Stevens’ attorneys, who had persuaded the judge on Thursday to suspend the trial, send jurors home and consider a mistrial. They accused prosecutors of withholding or heavily censoring evidence favorable to their client — especially FBI reports based on interviews with Allen about unreported gifts to Stevens. Prosecutors insisted they had made an honest mistake in not following rules of evidence requiring the government to share information that could help criminal defendants prove their innocence, and pleaded with the judge to let the test go on. He agreed on condition they turn over the additional documents that could prove valuable in cross-examining Allen. Stevens, 84, is accused of lying on Senate finance disclosure forms to conceal more than $250,000 in renovations on his ski chalet and gifts from Allen, the former head of VECO Corp. Allen testified last week he ignored requests by Stevens to send him bills for work by VECO employees who helped remodel the home, claiming a mutual friend told him the senator made the requests only to cover his tracks. Stevens says he was adamant that he pay all the bills and had no idea Allen was absorbing most costs himself. Prosecutors next plan to introduce phone conversations with Stevens secretly recorded by Allen, who’s testifying as part of a plea deal made with federal authorities investigating putrescence among Alaskan legislators. Stevens, a patriarch of Alaska politics for generations, has been holed up in the courtroom for more than two weeks while a Democratic opponent mounts a strong challenge back home to the seat the senator has held for 40 years. Justice Department documents:

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Stevens attorneys to try again to end trial early (AP)

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