Chambliss told the Atlanta Journal Constitution, “I hope Sen. Stevens is successful in being reelected. And assuming that he is, I intend to support any motion to remove him.”
Ensign said, “It’s probably better to let Alaska — it’s probably going to take a while to count all the votes up there — let that take place, then after the first of the year.”
Sen. Mel Martinez (R.-Fla.) told Roll Call, "If Sen. Ted Stevens were to be reelected, I think it would be very difficult, as a convicted felon, that he should remain in the conference. I think the Republican Party needs to send a signal that we are at a moment of time and at history that we are not to tolerate that."
Sen. Mike Crapo (R.-Idaho) and Sen. Arlen Specter (R.-Pa.) told Roll Call they were concerned about Stevens’s constitutional rights.
"My position has always been we have due process rights in our Constitution," Crapo said. "Until a person has been allotted all of their rights, we should withhold judgment."
Stevens was convicted of seven corruption charges in late October.
Stevens's Democratic opponent Mark Begich currently holds a 814-vote lead. Roughly 35,000 ballots are expected to be counted in the coming weeks. |