Senator from Alaska indicted on 7 counts

Stevens, 84, accused of lying on reports

Reaction to the indictment was muted yesterday on Capitol Hill, where the Justice Department has been conducting a number of corruption investigations.

Sen. Richard J. Durbin, an Illinois Democrat and the Senate's majority whip, described the mood among Democrats as "somber" and added that his caucus was thinking of Stevens and his family. "I believe in the presumption of innocence," Durbin added. "At this point, we should just let the courts do their work."

Senate Minority leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, appeared alone before reporters at a briefing usually attended by most of the GOP leadership. He appeared grim. .

Stevens is charged with seven counts of making false statements on his financial disclosure forms for 2001 to 2006. The Ethics in Government Act requires lawmakers to disclose gifts over a specific monetary amount as well as liabilities in excess of $10,000.

Richard B. Schmitt and Janet Hook write for the Los Angeles Times.