Stevens Might Testify In His Own Defense

15 Oct 2008 // Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens, the 84-year-old Republican lawmaker on trial for allegedly improperly accepting and concealing hundreds of thousands of gifts from a wealthy friend, might take the stand in his own defense, according to documents filed in connection with his three-week-old trial.

Stevens's name appears on a new witness list filed today, along with Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah); former Olympic swimmer-turned-broadcaster Donna de Varona; and University of Alaska administrator Martha A. Stewart.

Meanwhile, Stevens's wife, Catherine A. Stevens, has also been mentioned as a possible witness for both prosecutors and defense attorneys.

Government prosecutors are seeking thousands of work e-mails between Catherine Stevens, a partner at the Washington law firm of Mayer Brown LLP, and her husband. Stevens's attorneys claim that the e-mails are irrelevant to the corruption case and that they violate spousal privilege, a legal rule that prevents the disclosure of private information.