After 12 days of listening to recorded wire taps, reading emails, and arguments alleging Stevens received illegal gifts from VECO, the prosecution arguing corruption charges against Sen. Ted Stevens has rested and the trial now goes to the defense.

Today, Sen. Ted Stevens lost his motion to throw out the charges brought against him in a wide-ranging corruption investigation.

There are lists you campaign to be on (People's 50 Most Beautiful, Forbes Power List, Santa's "nice" list) and those you campaign to get off.  In the latter category falls CREW's Most Corrupt Members of Congress, the annual tally from the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington of those elected officials who have been very, very naughty.

The Abramoff Ax fells another. Kevin Ring, former minion of Jack Abramoff and once upon a time chief of staff to former Rep. John Doolittle has been indicted on ten counts of bribing public officials to take action on behalf of his clients. Insert your own "corruption ring" puns here. Somewhere Doolittle is scanning the sky nervously for signs of a dropping shoe.

It appears that convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff's extensive cooperation with federal investigators is paying off. He received a reduced sentence in connection with the corruption investigation that has ended the careers of a handful of politicians and government officials.

Is Jack Abramoff going to get sprung from the pokey a little earlier than anticipated? Apparently folks at the Justice Department are seeking to have his sentence reduced in return for Abramoff's cooperation in their ongoing public corruption inquiry which has already ended the political careers of a handful of legislators.  He's currently serving a sentence in connection with another fraud charge, he's yet to be sentenced on the congressional stuff.