Prosecution rests in Stevens case

WASHINGTON, Oct. 9 (UPI) -- U.S. prosecutors Thursday rested their case against Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, accused of not disclosing more than $250,000 in gifts and home renovations.

The Justice Department rested its case after it was allowed to call an additional witness, Dave Anderson, who worked in 2000 and 2001 on the senator's home remodeling project that is at the core of the criminal trial in Washington, The Hill reported.

The senator's defense team indicated it would call 10 witnesses to vouch for Stevens' character and would seek to impugn the credibility of the government's key witness.

The government called dozens of witnesses, presented hundreds of exhibits and several taped phone calls in presenting their case that Stevens intentionally did not disclose home renovations and gifts on Senate financial disclosure forms, the Washington publication said.

Stevens, 84, has denied the seven felony charges of making false statements, saying he paid every bill he was given. The longest-serving Republican in the Senate is seeking re-election in November.