Reid and Inouye clash over whether Stevens can stay

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and a member of his caucus clashed over whether Sen Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) can continue to serve despite his conviction on federal corruption charges. Sen Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) said on Saturday that he was certain Stevens's conviction would be overturned on appeal and that he would be allowed to remain in the Senate. "As the Senate has done in every other instance in its long 220-year history, I am absolutely confident that Ted Stevens will be sworn into the Senate while he appeals this unjust verdict," Sen Inouye said. The Democrat's statement of support was e-mailed to reporters by Stevens's reelection campaign. The two senators, both World War II veterans, serve together on the Senate Commerce Committee and have long been friends and Inouye testified on Stevens's behalf during his trial. But Sen Reid rejected any notion that Sen Stevens could stay in the Senate.