Alaskans react to end of Stevens prosecution

"If they had done that before, he'd still be senator," Bob Sloan, a nondenominational pastor, said at an Anchorage coffee shop.

The 85-year-old Stevens was indicated last summer on charges he lied on Senate disclosure forms to conceal gifts and renovations at his Girdwood home from Bill Allen, the former head of the oil field services company VECO Corp.

Stevens, the longest-serving Republican in the Senate, was convicted a week before the November election. He returned to Alaska to campaign, but the fiery senator looked haggard, lacked his signature bluster and lost the election to Democrat Mark Begich in a close race.

"I always knew that there would be a day when the cloud that surrounded me would be removed. That day has finally come," Stevens said in a statement. "It is unfortunate that an election was affected by proceedings now recognized as unfair."

Tim Nelson was among those who voted for Stevens despite the senator's conviction.

"Whether you agree with his politics or not, he was a politician who gave his whole heart to what he was doing," said Nelson, a carpenter.

Nelson said perhaps there was some culpability on Stevens' part, but he believes it was most likely a case of the senator being negligent in his disclosure forms.

Like many Alaskans, he said the charges didn't seems to be "a very big issue."

Stevens' former congressional colleague, Sen. Lisa Murkowski, said in a statement she was pleased by the Justice Department's action.

"But I am deeply disturbed that the government can ruin a man's career and then say 'never mind.' There is nothing that will ever compensate for the loss of his reputation or leadership to the State of Alaska," the Alaska Republican said.

"Our nation is governed by the rule of law, and violations of our civil liberties cannot be tolerated. Prosecutors and law enforcement have the power to bring the full weight of the government to bear on individuals. If they are willing to bend the law, they put all of our civil liberties at risk," she said.

Begich released a short statement saying he always maintained that Stevens should not serve time in jail and that Wednesday's action likely ensures that is the case.

"It's time for Senator Stevens, his family and Alaskans to move on and put this behind us," Begich said.

The Alaska Republican Party had backed Stevens all along, and party chairman Randy Ruedrich hailed the news.

"I am delighted to see justice moving forward. The position that the Alaska Republican Party took after the trial was that Alaskans needed to support the senator, and now we have further information to support our position," Ruedrich said. "We'll look forward to the complete story presenting itself and clearing Senator Stevens name."

Not all Alaskans agreed with the Justice Department's decision.

"It's disgusting," said Jim Murphy, a longtime Stevens supporter until he was charged.

"Clearly a jury thought he was guilty. He was judged by his peers, but somehow wielded his influence and power," Murphy said. "I just think the average guy would be sitting in jail right now."