Stevens' defense uses witness to refute Allen's claims

October 16, 2008

Stevens had come to Persons' Girdwood restaurant for dinner, the Double Musky Inn, 25 years ago, and that s where their friendship began. (Courtesy Sketch)

by Jill Burke
Wednesday, October 15, 2008

WASHINGTON -- A Girdwood restaurant owner and good friend of Sen. Ted Stevens took the stand Wednesday on behalf of the senator.

Bob Persons, owner of the Double Musky Inn, was brought up by the defense to refute strong statements made by the government's star witness, Bill Allen.

On the stand, Persons explained how he first met Stevens 25 years ago.

Stevens had come to Persons' restaurant for dinner, and that's where their friendship began.

He landed as a figure in Stevens' criminal trial because he watched over the senator's home renovations.

Stevens' defense team used its turn with Persons to soften powerful statements brought in earlier in the case by prosecutors.

The first attempted reversal was to show that Allen, the former VECO CEO, may be a liar.

Allen told jurors when he pushed to address the senator's desire to pay for things, Persons told him, "Don't worry about getting a bill, Ted's just covering his ass."

One of Stevens' attorneys asked Persons to confirm whether or not he had said that to Allen.

Persons laughed and responded, "No, that's crazy."

The next bit of damage control was to address a remark Persons made saying that Stevens' wife thinks the senator gets hysterical when he has to spend his own money.

The defense asked Persons what he meant by that statement. His answer was that it was a joke.

On cross examination Persons' memory seemed to lapse more than it had for the defense.

The fogginess came out as prosecutors worked to show his statements to investigators and juries hadn't always been consistent.

With Persons still on the stand, the people who really know in their hearts and minds how the single story Girdwood chalet became an expanded two story home -- and who paid for all of it -- will have to wait to speak up.

Stevens' wife, Catherine, will follow Persons on the stand, followed by the senator.

Persons' testimony will continue Thursday.

Contact Jill Burke at jburke@ktuu.com

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