from ap: A plane carrying former Sen. Ted Stevens and ex-NASA chief Sean O'Keefe crashed near a remote fishing village in Alaska, killing the longtime senator and at least four others, authorities said Tuesday.
The crash was a stunning event in a state where Stevens became the most beloved political figure in Alaska history during his 40 years in the Senate, earning a reputation as a tireless advocate for projects that brought millions of federal dollars to the state. He was 86.
from raw replay: After the latest vote counting, Mark Begich is leading Sen. Ted Steven for Senator of Alaska. 43,000 absentee votes were counted today. The board of elections says an additional 35,000 ballots will be counted in the next week. This video is from MSNBC’s Countdown, broadcast Nov. 12, 2008.
update: begich now leading by 814 votes from raw story: The dyspeptic Republican senator convicted of taking gifts may soon be out of a job. Mark Begich, Sen. Ted Stevens' opponent in the Alaska Senate race, is now leading Stevens by 814 votes - 132,196 to 131,382 - with about 40,000 votes left to go. Begich was behind the day after the election but has made up ground as absentee, early and questioned ballots have been added to the pile. If re-elected, Stevens would become the first convict ever elected to the Senate. If his election fails, Begich would succeed the 40-year Senate veteran.
conviction on 7 felony counts as election looms from reuters: Sen. Ted Stevens of Alaska was convicted of corruption on Monday [Oct27], a verdict that could endanger the Republican's political future and help Democrats expand control of the Senate in the November 4 election.
Stevens, 84, was convicted on all seven counts of lying on Senate disclosure forms by failing to report more than $250,000 in home renovations and other gifts from an oil executive.
"I ask that Alaskans and my Senate colleagues stand with me as I pursue my rights. I remain a candidate for the United States Senate."
The loss of Stevens' seat could help Democrats control 60 seats in the 100-seat chamber, enough to overcome potential Republican roadblocks.
The Senate could vote to expel a convicted felon with a two-thirds vote, but no action is expected before next week's election. Since 1789, the Senate has expelled only 15 members.
sen. stevens found guilty of series of crimes from threat level: Sen. Ted Stevens, the Alaska powerhouse Republican senator, was convicted Monday on seven counts of lying about thousands of dollars in renovation work — including new plumbing — done on his home by a private oil services company. Stevens' defense that he thought he'd paid for the series of tubes did not persuade the Washington, D.C., jury, which convicted him on all charges. Stevens faces up to five years behind a series of bars for each count, but he is not likely to serve time under sentencing guidelines. He also says he's not stepping down from Congress. He's up for re-election this year. For those who don't recall, Stevens' Tube Mania largely started on Threat Level (nee 27b Stroke 6). See an early roundup of Tube fun.
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from ap: A plane carrying former Sen. Ted Stevens and ex-NASA chief Sean O'Keefe crashed near a remote fishing village in Alaska, killing the longtime senator and at least four others, authorities said Tuesday.
