Alaska Senator Goes On Trial

WASHINGTON (AP) - Jury selection begins in Washington today in
the high-profile federal corruption trial of Alaska Senator Ted
Stevens.
The 84-year-old, six-term senator who is locked in a tight
re-election race plans to testify.
Stevens is accused of lying on his Senate disclosure forms about
hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of gifts and home repair
work he received from an oil services company.
The defense contends Stevens paid for at least some of the
renovation work and thought he was paying for all of it.
Prosecutors will have to show he knowingly lied when he filled out
the forms.
A judge agreed to fast-track the trial before the November
election. It's expected to take about three weeks and Stevens says
he plans to go home to campaign as often as possible.