Two Arkansas-based companies donated money this election cycle to Sen. Ted Stevens, the Alaska Republican convicted of seven felonies Monday for failing to disclose more than $250,000 in gifts he received from an Alaska oil company.

Alltel Corp.’s political action committee has given Stevens $5,000 in the past two years, according to Federal Election Commission filings.

Windstream Communications’ PAC donated $2,000 to Stevens in April, campaign finance reports show.

A spokesman for Alltel had no comment Monday about that company’s donations to Stevens. Alltel’s latest gift was $1,000 in March. The company’s PAC gave $4,000 last year.

Stevens, 84, is the ranking Republican member of the Senate Commerce Committee. The panel has jurisdiction over telecommunications legislation.

David Avery, a spokesman for Windstream, said the company typically donates money to lawmakers who support the rural telecommunications industry.

“Sen. Stevens generally, from what I understand, has been supportive of rural telecom interests throughout his career,” Avery said.

Stevens has been in the Senate since 1968 and is its longest-serving Republican. He faces up to five years in prison on the corruption convictions.

Stevens faces Democrat Mark Begich in the Nov. 4 general election.

Tags: Alltel, Ted Stevens, Windstream

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