Ted Stevens Guilty

Sarah Palin is not calling on Sen. Ted Stevens to resign, only saying in a statement that she’s confident her state’s senior senator “will do what’s right for the people of Alaska” after being found guilty on seven corruption related charges today.

Palin also made no mention of whether she’d still vote for Stevens.

Asked last month whether she intended to support Stevens, Palin noted to reporters that his trial had just started.

“We’ll see where that goes,” she said at the time.

Palin has made her challenge of the Alaska political establishment a centerpiece of her stump speech, and sought to use the statement to reinforce that message.

“The verdict shines a light on the corrupting influence of the big oil service company that was allowed to control too much of our state,” Palin said. “It was part of the culture of corruption I was elected to fight. And that fight must always move forward regardless of party or seniority or even past service.”

But despite that barely-veiled shot at the 40-year senator and the campaign’s broader reform message, Palin otherwise held her fire — a reflection, perhaps, of the enduring popularity Stevens enjoys in her homestate.

“As Governor of the State of Alaska, I will carefully monitor this situation and take any appropriate action as needed,” Palin said. “In the meantime, I ask the people of Alaska to join me in respecting the workings of our judicial system.”

“I’m confident Senator Stevens will do what’s right for the people of Alaska.”

Should Stevens win re-election, he could still face expulsion from his colleagues. The 84-year-old senator is facing up to five years in prison for each count.

UPDATE: A Palin friend writes in to suggest that I’m “under-reading” the statement, especially the last sentence.

“This beloved, grandfatherly figure was just told by his governor to do the right thing,” translates this source. “C’mon, he gets a day.”

If he doesn’t?

“Stay tuned.”

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