Sen. Stevens Claims Constitutional Violation

From the AP:

Sen. Ted Stevens says his indictment on federal corruption charges violates the Constitution.

He says the FBI overstepped its bounds when it questioned members of his legislative staff as part of the investigation.

Stevens says that violated the Constitution’s speech-and-debate clause, which prohibits the executive branch from using its law enforcement authority to interfere with legislative business. His lawyers filed court documents Thursday asking that the case be thrown out.

The Senate’s longest-serving Republican, Stevens is scheduled to face trial next month on charges that he lied about hundreds of thousands of dollars in gifts and services he received from an oil services contractor.

Late Update: We kind of thought Stevens would try out this argument. Rep. William “Cold Cash” Jefferson (D-LA) tried that, too. And it worked.