Jury seated in Stevens corruption trial

WASHINGTON, Sept. 24 (UPI) -- A jury was seated Wednesday in the corruption trial in Washington of Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, paving the way for opening statements to begin.

Attorneys for the federal government and Stevens agreed to seat 12 jurors and four alternates -- 11 women and five men, The Hill reported.

The Republican senator has pleaded not guilty to seven felony counts of not reporting more than $250,000 in gifts and home renovations from a now-defunct oil-services company in Alaska. He has said he wanted a expedited trial so he could clear his name before the November election.

Stevens, the longest-serving Republican in the Senate, is seeking a seventh full term.

Opening statements are scheduled to begin Thursday for the trial being heard in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.