Ted Stevens allowed 5 character witnesses

WASHINGTON, Oct. 10 (UPI) -- The judge in Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens' criminal trial ruled Friday that five character witnesses can be called, about half the number the defense team sought.

"You select the five or I'll select the five," U.S. District Judgte Emmet Sullivan told defense attorneys, The Hill reported.

Stevens, 84, the longest-serving Republican senator, has pleaded not guilty to charges of failing to report more than $250,000 in gifts and home renovations on his Senate financial disclosure forms.

The character witnesses are a major part of the defense's strategy of showing Stevens is an honest man and would not knowingly lie under oath, the Washington publication reported.

Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii, the first defense witness called Thursday, testified that Stevens is an honest man who had a high reputation in the Senate.

Also scheduled to testify is former Secretary of State Colin Powell. It was not known who else would be called, The Hill said.