Ted Stevens

The Maine Democratic Party blasted a statement by U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Bangor) that she would not call on Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) to step down. Stevens was convicted this week on seven counts of violating federal ethics laws.

Many of her Republican colleagues, including Presidential candidate John McCain, have called on Stevens to step down as senator and abandon his reelection bid.

Rebecca Pollard, communications director for the Maine Democratic Party, demanded today that Collins take a stand.

UPDATE: The Portland Press Herald has this story about how Collins and Snowe feel about Stevens’ conviction. U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe said he should step down. Collins said it should be up to the voters.

U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Bangor) has given $10,000 this cycle to Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), who was convicted Monday on seven counts of violating federal ethics laws for not reporting gifts from lobbyists.

Collins gave to Stevens through her committee, Dirigo PAC, in two $5,000 donations. The first occurred on June 18, 2007, before news of the federal investigation came to light. The second occurred June 11, 2008, after the investigation became public and several weeks before Stevens was indicted.

When asked why Collins chose to donate to Stevens the second time, campaign spokesman Kevin Kelley replied in an email: “It is common for members of Congress to donate to their colleagues’ campaigns.”

Stevens had given Collins $10,000 toward her reelection bid through his committee, the Northern Lights PAC. After he was indicted, Collins’ campaign announced that it would give the funds to charity.

U.S. Sen. Susan Collins: Getty Images PhotoU.S. Sen. Susan Collins will take a $10,000 donation from the Northern Lights Political Action Committee and give it to charity. The PAC is affiliated with U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, who was indicted today on seven counts of failing to disclose thousands of dollars in services from an oil services company that helped renovate his home.

Kevin Kelley, spokesman for the Collins campaign, said the campaign has not decided which charity the campaign will give the money to.

The Maine Democratic Party brought the monetary connection between Collins and Stevens to light quickly after news of the indictment broke. This was one of several attacks against Collins today.