McCain and Palin Say Stevens Should Resign

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McCain Calls for Stevens' Resignation

Republican presidential candidate John McCain called Tuesday for Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens to step down in the aftermath of his felony convictions in a federal corruption case, saying the longtime Republican "has broken his trust with the people."

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It could be many months before Stevens is sentenced. U.S. District Judge Emmet G. Sullivan has set a Feb. 25 hearing to consider motions that Stevens's attorneys are expected to file in an effort to overturn the conviction.

Stevens faces as much as five years in prison on each of the seven counts. Under federal sentencing guidelines, he could expect a recommended prison term of about two or three years, said Douglas Berman, a law professor at Ohio State University who specializes in sentencing policy.

Berman said that in determining Stevens's sentence under the guidelines, Sullivan may take into account that Stevens went to trial rather than pleading guilty and has blamed prosecutorial misconduct for his conviction. It also is clear that the jury did not believe Stevens's testimony that his family paid every bill he received and that he did not request many of the gifts or renovations.

"The jury came back and concluded beyond reasonable doubt that he was not telling the truth," Berman said. "That works against him."

Stevens could seek a pardon from Bush before he nears sentencing. Bush also can delay court proceedings, such as sentencing, and commute sentences, according to legal scholars.

Bush also could offer a conditional pardon, requiring, for example, that Stevens give up his Senate seat in exchange for clemency.

The White House said Monday that it would not comment because Stevens's case had not concluded.