Stevens must turn over wife's e-mail

WASHINGTON, Oct. 14 (UPI) -- A federal judge Tuesday ordered Sen. Ted Stevens to give U.S. prosecutors e-mail sent by his wife during the time when he allegedly didn't disclose gifts.

The Alaskan Republican's attorneys had argued the government was going on a last-minute "fishing expedition" with attorney Joseph Terry calling the subpoena "invasive," The Hill reported. However, U.S. District Judge Emmet G. Sullivan said the defense should turn over three disks containing thousands of pieces of e-mail.

Stevens, the longest-serving Republican in the Senate, pleaded innocent to charges he failed to disclose $250,000 worth of gifts and home renovations on his 1999-2006 Senate financial disclosure forms.

The prosecution is trying to undermine the defense argument that Catherine Stevens oversaw arrangements for home renovations.

Catherine Stevens's law firm turned over 29,000 pages of documents but the government issued a subpoena, saying much of the e-mail before 2005 weren't included.

The battle for the e-mail intensified during the last few days when it became apparent that the senator's wife would testify this week. Stevens, who is seeking re-election, is expected to testify this week after his wife.