Tubes flushed:

WASHINGTON (AP) - Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens has been convicted of lying about free home renovations and other gifts he received from a wealthy oil contractor. The Senate's longest-serving Republican, Stevens was found guilty on all seven counts of making false statements on Senate financial documents.

The verdict throws the upcoming election into disarray. Stevens is fighting off a challenge from Democrat Mark Begich and must now either drop out or continue campaigning as a convicted felon.

The trial hinged on the testimony of Stevens' longtime friend, who testified that his employees dramatically remodeled the senator's home.

Stevens faces up to five years in prison on each count but, under federal sentencing guidelines, will likely receive much less prison time, if any.

Update [2008-10-27 16:11:44 by Jonathan Singer]:The Hill rightly notes that Stevens is the longest serving Republican Senator in history, a fact that will make it difficult if not impossible for the GOP to distance itself from this news. Certainly this will help Mark Begich -- though you should still donate to his campaign. The biggest remaining question, then, is the extent to which Sarah Palin's close ties to Stevens weigh down on the Republican ticket in light of this verdict. At the least, this is yet another lost day for the McCain campaign, which can ill afford to have missed opportunities this late in the game.

Update [2008-10-27 16:34:54 by Jonathan Singer]: I suppose it wouldn't be opportune for the McCain campaign for me to dredge up this campaign ad featuring Ted Stevens making an important endorsement of Sarah Palin at a key point in her 2006 gubernatorial race...

Update [2008-10-27 16:38:9 by Jonathan Singer]: It probably wouldn't also be great if the following video shot this summer of Palin pallin' around with Stevens were to get out:

Update [2008-10-27 16:55:34 by Jonathan Singer]: An attorney involved in Democratic electoral law informs me that Stevens can not be removed from the ballot, so the Republicans will not be able to replace him with another choice and are thus stuck with him as their nominee.

All seven counts below the fold for your perusal...

Count 1:

A scheme to knowingly and willfully conceal material facts from the Senate Select Committee on Ethics through a deliberate plan. This charge relates to all of the Senator’s financial disclosure forms between 2000 and 2006.

Count 2:

False statements on Stevens’ financial disclosure form for calendar year 2001. This charge involves gifts from or liabilities to Bill Allen, VECO, Bob Persons and Robert Penney. Among the items the government alleged that Stevens accepted as unreported gifts in this year are the services of an architect and other VECO employees, major renovations on Stevens’ home, a Viking gas grill, an electric massage chair and other items.

Count 3:

False statements on the Senator’s financial disclosure form for calendar year 2002. This charge involves gifts from or liabilities to Bill Allen, VECO, Robert Penney and others. Among the items the government alleged that Stevens accepted as unreported gifts in this year are a lower deck with a plastic roof, extensive holiday lighting and a sculpture of salmon worth at least $29,000, which Stevens said was a gift to his foundation. This charge may include any liabilities carried over from prior years.

Count 4:

False statements on the Senator’s financial disclosure form for calendar year 2003. This charge involves gifts from or liabilities to Bill Allen, VECO, Robert Penney. The government alleges that Stevens accepted a sled dog worth about $1,000, but filed to report its true value and its true source. This charge may include any liabilities carried over from prior years.

Count 5:

False statements on the Senator’s financial disclosure form for calendar year 2004. This charge involves gifts from or liabilities to Bill Allen and VECO. Among the items the government alleged that Stevens accepted as unreported gifts in this year are household appliances and a heat tape system for melting snow on his roof. This charge may include any liabilities carried over from prior years.

Count 6:

False statements on the Senator’s financial disclosure form for calendar year 2005. This charge involves gifts from or liabilities to Bill Allen and VECO. Among the items the government alleged that Stevens accepted as unreported gifts in this year are roof repairs and electrical work. This charge may include any liabilities carried over from prior years.

Count 7:

False statements on the Senator’s financial disclosure form for calendar year 2006. This charge involves gifts from or liabilities to Bill Allen and VECO. The government alleges that Stevens accepted free plumbing services which he did not report as a gift. This charge may include any liabilities carried over from prior years.