Key Figure in Telecom Act Rewrite Attempts Indicted

Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, one of the longest-serving and most-hailed politicians in Congress, has been indicted for corruption.

Stevens was a key figure in recent attempts to rewrite the 1996 Telecom Act. He served as chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, which oversees communications law, until the Democrats won the majority in 2006.

Stevens tended to side with the powerful Bell companies and played an embarrassing role in the net neutrality debate when he called the Internet “a series of tubes.” The feds investigated him for more than a year and handed down the charges Tuesday. The question now is whether the 84-year-old will weather the upcoming election.

New York Times: Alaska Senator Is Indicted on Corruption Charges

AP: Sen. Stevens indicted: 7 false statements counts

Washington Post: Alaska Senator Indicted After Yearlong Probe