Report: Justice planning to drop Stevens charges

[April 01, 2009]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- News reports say the Justice Department will drop all charges against former Sen. Ted Stevens.

The 85-year-old Alaska Republican was convicted late last year on seven felony counts of lying on Senate financial disclosure forms to conceal hundreds of thousands of dollars in gifts and home renovations from a businessman.

National Public Radio said Wednesday that Attorney General Eric Holder has decided that the conviction of Stevens cannot be defended because of problems with the government's prosecution.

Stevens is appealing his conviction. In December, he asked a federal judge to grant him a new trial or throw out the case, saying his trial had many "deficiencies."

[Associated Press]

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