Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska was found guilty on seven counts of improperly reporting all those expensive gifts he got. The trial, which I have been following somewhat, looked to be leaning his way until he and his wife took the stand. They did themselves no favors with their testimony — Mr. Stevens in particular.

He kept insisting he’d be away from home for a few days, and when he got back there would be expensive gifts or work done on the house, so it wasn’t his fault! People giving a politician expensive things isn’t his fault, but there are only two options when it happens: return them or report them. He did neither and just went on with his merry life, which I’m guessing won’t be so merry now.