Sen. Stevens to Prosecutor: “There Are No Gifts There Ma’am”

[WSJ_law_blog]

Sen. Ted Stevens questioned by defense Attorney Brendan Sullivan as Prosecutor Attorney Brenda Morris listens and Judge Emmet G. Sullivan looks on, Oct. 17, 2008. (AP/Dana Verkouteren)

A week has gone by, and, aside from a post on Beltway Big Brendan Sullivan, we’ve left the Ted Stevens trial alone.

Why? Well, for one thing, the defense’s case hasn’t been nearly as theatrical as the prosecution’s. Stevens’ wife, a Washington lawyer, took the stand and said the gas grill, a gift, was dangerous and scared her. She also testified that the furniture provided in the chalet by former Veco CEO Bill Allen was tasteless, according to the NYT.

When Ted Stevens followed his wife on the stand yesterday, his direct testimony was similarly measured. Asked by his lawyer, Williams & Connolly’s Sullivan, whether he believed his disclosure forms were accurate and truthful, he said yes and confirmed that he never intended to file false statements. (Stevens faces charges that he accepted and failed to report more than $250,000 in gifts.)

But late today, when Stevens’ lawyers turned him over to the prosecution for cross-examination, things heated up a bit, according to this report from Politico. Lead prosecutor Brenda Morris reportedly peppered Stevens with questions, asking him why he knew so little about his Alaska chalet reservations, and why he let Allen run roughshod over him in using the house.

“You were a lion of the Senate but you didn’t know how to prevent another man from putting items in your house?” Morris reportedly asked. (Presumably, she was referring to the appliances and additions, such an expensive gas grill and a stained-glass panel, that were added as part of the makeover to his Girdwood, Alaska, home.)

“You’re making a lot of assumptions that are unwarranted,” he responded. “There are no gifts there ma’am.”

He reportedly added: “I’m not going to get in the middle of this game with you,” Stevens said. “You ask me questions and I’ll give you answers.”