Sen. Ted Stevens has started a legal defense fund to help pay for his trial on corruption charges. This means that anyone (aside from lobbyists) can donate up to $10,000 in an effort keep Sen. Stevens out of jail.

This means that Sen. Stevens, on trial for receiving gifts from a corporation and campaign contributors, can receive over double the amount of money for his defense fund than is allowed by law to his campaign fund. Unlike campaign fund reporting requirements, though, any donations he receives after September 30th don't have to reported until after his election is over. 

Campaign Money Watch released a statement on the situation today. Here's David Donnelly:

 

“In pressing for a speedy trial, Ted Stevens has argued that voters should know everything about his guilt or innocence before Election Day. If that’s the case for his trial, then why not go the additional step and answer the question, ‘Who are the big money donors paying for his legal defense fund?’ Surely, the public has the right to know, and would benefit from knowing before November 4.”

A big pharmaceutical executive or oil baron could, in essence, donate $14,600 to Sen. Stevens by maxing out to both the campaign and defense funds. With his history, it makes sense that Alaska voters get to see who these people are.