Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), the former chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, testified at the corruption trial of Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) on Thursday.

Inouye said he considers Stevens, who is accused of making false statements on financial disclosure forms, to be one of his closest friends. "I have never known him to lie," he testified, The Washington Post reported.

As two of the longest-serving members of the Senate, Inouye and Stevens have worked together on Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian issues for decades. "I can assure you his word is good enough to take to the bank," Inouye said.

Inouye was the first witness for the defense in a trial that has teetered on collapse due to the way the Department of Justice has handled the case. Though the judge has rejected calls for a mistrial, he chastised prosecutors and excluded key evidence.

Stevens, the former chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee , is one of the most powerful members of the Senate. He has used his position to help Alaska Native corporations and to pressure Alaska tribes and villages.

Get the Story:
Inouye Praises Stevens's Integrity (The Washington Post 10/10)
pwpwd
Sen. Inouye testifies for his friend (The Anchorage Daily News 10/10)
pwlat

Related Stories:
Sen. Stevens loses bid to dismiss corruption case (10/3)
Column: Sen. Stevens says wife controls 'tepee' (09/26)
Alaska Natives on witness list for Sen. Stevens trial (9/23)
Sen. Stevens wins Alaska Republican primary (8/27)
Sen. Stevens loses motion to move trial to Alaska (8/21)
Sen. Stevens wants coruption trial moved to Alaska (8/5)
Column: Uncle Ted Stevens helped Alaska Natives (8/4)
Sen. Stevens set for quick trial on corruption charges (8/1)
More woes for GOP with Sen. Stevens indictment (7/30)
Sen. Ted Stevens indicted on corruption charges (7/29)