"...too early to know if the Senate would vote to expel him ..." WTF?

[SoCalDem]

Conviction wouldn't bar Stevens from Senate

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- If U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens of Alaska is found guilty of falsifying Senate financial disclosure forms over seven years but wins re-election, he could still serve in the Senate until that body votes to expel him.

snip

Stevens faces seven felony counts accusing him of failing to reveal to the Senate certain gifts of materials, labor and household goods related to the extensive renovation of his Girdwood, Alaska, home. The prosecution valued the gifts he received at more than $250,000.

Article 1, Section 5 of the U.S. Constitution provides, "Each House may determine the Rules of its proceedings, punish its members for disorderly behavior, and, with the concurrence of two-thirds, expel a member." According to the U.S. Senate Web site, "since 1789, the Senate has expelled only fifteen of its entire membership. Of that number, fourteen were charged with support of the Confederacy during the Civil War. In several other cases, the Senate considered expulsion proceedings but either found the member not guilty or failed to act before the member left office. In those cases, corruption was the primary cause of complaint.

"In the entire course of the Senate's history, only four members have been convicted of crimes. They were: Joseph R. Burton (1905), John Hipple Mitchell (1905), Truman H. Newberry (1920) and Harrison Williams (1981)," the site says. "Newberry's conviction was later overturned. Mitchell died. Burton, Newberry, and Williams resigned before the Senate could act on their expulsion."

snip

After an investigation, the committee would recommend to the full Senate a punishment ranging from reprimand to expulsion. That investigation likely would happen during the next Congress, which convenes in January. Stevens, therefore, could serve and vote during the November lame-duck session and be sworn in next year.

A Republican leadership aide said it's too early to know if the Senate would vote to expel him if he were to be found guilty.

snip

[undeterred]

1. What's a little corruption when you've put up with 8yrs of Cheney and Bush?

We have really low standards.

[LunaSea]

2. ...

[zbdent]

3. They had less on Ohio Dem Jim Traficant ...

and boy, the calls were flying there ...

[shraby]

4. If he's found guilty of the felony counts, doesn't

that make him eligible for a prison cell instead of a senate seat?

[SoCalDem]

5. They'll apply for an appeal, and with his age, will probably let him stay out of jail

and even if he's found guilty, they'll probably postpone the sentencing for a while anyway..

No one's gonna throw and 84 yr old in jail..especially a senator.. He'll skate..because he's such a slimebag, he did not have the decency to quit:grr: