Stevens' Wife Denies Impropriety

Ted Stevens’ wife, testifying at the Alaska senator’s Washington corruption trial today, said she didn’t know that two men working on a home renovation were oil-company employees, the Anchorage Daily News reports. Catherine Stevens, herself a lawyer, often spoke directly to the jury as the defense pushed its case that the senator paid all relevant bills, and is innocent of lying about gifts.

Catherine Stevens, who oversaw the financial aspects of the work, said she thought the Veco employees were working for the general contractor, though she sent gifts to one at Veco headquarters. Another witness, a friend of the Stevens' involved in the dealings, told defense attorneys he urged Veco chief Bill Allen to provide invoices, but then told prosecutors he never received any. (More Ted Stevens stories.)