By Kathleen Hunter, CQ Staff

The Senate Ethics Committee has given Sen. Ted Stevens permission to set up a legal expense fund, which will provide another source of revenue to pay for the Alaska Republican’s upcoming federal corruption trial.

Jury selection begins Monday for Stevens’ trial, in which prosecutors will try to prove that the veteran lawmaker illegally concealed gifts he received from executives of Alaska-based oil and gas services company VECO Corp. over a period of seven years.

In a Sept. 11 letter to Stevens’ attorney, the Ethics Committee’s staff director, John Sassaman, reminded Stevens that Senate rules prelude lobbyists or foreign agents from donating to the fund, and that he’ll have to return to the committee for approval of any pro bono legal services in excess of $10,000.

The ethics committee approved Stevens’ legal fund Sept. 11, but the documents were not made public until this week.

The first report disclosing expense fund donors is due Oct. 15.

Attorney William B. Canfield said Stevens sought permission to set up the fund after receiving inquiries from supporters.

“Now if people call, he’ll say yes,” Canfield said, adding, “He’s not soliciting anything.”

Barbara Schuhmann, a Fairbanks lawyer, has been named as the fund’s trustee and therefore will make decisions about fundraising and spending.

Legal-expense funds have become routine for members of Congress accused of running afoul of the law because of restrictions on the use of campaign funds. At least a half-dozen lawmakers have active defense funds raising money during this Congress.