Some high-profile friends are coming forward
in defense of Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens at his corruption trial.
Former Secretary of State Colin Powell today said the senator's reputation for honesty and integrity was "sterling" in the quarter-century that they've known each other. Powell, a retired four-star Army general, used infantry jargon at one point, saying, "this is a guy you take on a long patrol." He said, "There was never any suggestion that he would do anything that was improper."

Yesterday, Democratic Sen. Daniel Inouye of Hawaii called Stevens' reputation for honesty "absolute." Defense lawyers want to call other senators, including Orrin Hatch and the ailing Ted Kennedy, as character witnesses.

Prosecutors have accused Stevens of trying to hide more than
$250,000 in renovations to his Alaska cabin and other gifts from the former head of an oil services company.