WASHINGTON — A growing chorus of Republicans on Tuesday called for Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens to resign from a seat he’s held for four decades after his conviction on seven felony charges.
But with the party bracing for losses in the upcoming election, many hope Stevens will first win re-election next Tuesday, and then resign to give Republicans a chance to fill the seat with a fresh GOP face.
However, Stevens may not be able to vote for himself on Election Day, with state election officials researching whether his conviction in federal court disqualifies him from going to the polls.
Stevens, 84, was convicted Monday of lying about hundreds of thousands of dollars in home renovations and gifts he received from a corrupt oil contractor. The verdict came down just a week before Election Day, too late for Republicans to put someone new on the ballot against Democrat Mark Begich.
Nevertheless, Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell urged their Senate colleague to resign.
“It is clear that Sen. Stevens has broken his trust with the people and that he should now step down,” McCain said.
After McCain’s comments, Palin issued a new statement saying there was a cloud over Stevens’ seat.
“Even if elected on Tuesday, Senator Stevens should step aside to allow a special election to give Alaskans a real choice of who will serve them in Congress,” Palin said.
That Stevens has a chance of winning Tuesday is a testament to his storied political career, which dates back to before Alaska’s statehood. If he wins, then steps down, a special election would be held to replace him.
“If a resignation is going to happen, the nation gains nothing by having it happen before the election,” said Mead Treadwell, an Alaska Republican and longtime Stevens supporter who is among the state’s largest McCain donors.
Stevens has given no indication he’s even considering resignation. His spokesman did not return messages seeking comment Tuesday. Instead, Stevens released news that the Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission and a retired Air Force officer had endorsed him.
Following his conviction, Stevens forcefully declared that he remained a candidate. He asked for patience from his colleagues while his appeals play out, and he announced that he was heading back to Alaska to campaign.
“Service in the Senate demands the highest ethical standards,” Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., said Tuesday. “Unfortunately, his conviction proved that he has failed to meet those standards and he should resign immediately.”
Oregon Republican Sen. Gordon Smith, who like Stevens is in a tight race for re-election, echoed that call.
But he may not get to vote Tuesday. States have different rules on whether convicted felons can vote. Alaska law says “a person convicted of a crime that constitutes a felony involving moral turpitude under state or federal law may not vote in a state, federal, or municipal election from the date of the conviction through the date of the unconditional discharge of the person.”
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