Alaska Sen. Stevens loses bid to dismiss charges

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Longtime U.S. Republican Sen. Ted Stevens of Alaska lost a bid on Wednesday to dismiss the corruption charges against him, a ruling that clears the way for his trial to start in 12 days.

U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan rejected defense efforts to dismiss the charges on grounds that only the Senate may discipline him for any violations of Senate rules and that the indictment was unconstitutionally vague.

Stevens, 84, was indicted on July 29 on seven counts of filing false Senate financial disclosure forms by leaving out more than $250,000 in gifts he received from an Alaska oil services company.

Stevens, who faces a tough race for re-election in November, has served 40 years in the Senate and is the longest-serving Republican senator in U.S. history. His trial is set to start on September 22 with jury selection.

With Congress back in session, Stevens has returned to Washington after campaigning in Alaska for re-election on November 4. Stevens waived his right to attend Wednesday's hearing, which lasted several hours.

(Reporting by James Vicini; Editing by Howard Goller and Peter Cooney)