On Stand, Stevens Flashes Temper

Morris closely questioned Stevens about renovations, including a deck added to the home in 2002, when most of the other renovations were complete. Earlier in the day, Stevens told his defense lawyer he had no idea that a steel staircase would be added to his home, which he calls a "chalet."

"It's not a question of wanted it ... it was there when I saw it," Stevens told the prosecutor.

When the prosecutor kept pressing the senator about the staircase, Stevens shot back that it was from Allen's junk pile. "It was left over from an [oil] platform. Did you know that?" the senator asked.

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Morris zeroed in on the point, saying it proved that Veco material was being used on the senator's home and that Allen directed the effort.

"Veco is not Bill Allen to me. Bill Allen is not Veco," Stevens replied. "You're the one bringing Veco in here. Bill Allen is my friend."

The defense has highlighted memos and notes from Stevens, asking Allen for bills for the work.

When the press began to inquire about rumors that Veco had done the work, Stevens' friend Bob Persons, who monitored the progress on the home, sent the senator an e-mail dated Dec. 4, 2004. "The press will try to spin this on you, we're fully documented and so is Bill," the e-mail read.

"Weren't you covering your bottom with these e-mails?" Morris asked the senator.

Stevens responded, "My bottom wasn't bare."

The prosecution then entered into evidence Stevens' response to his friend's message, in which he noted his displeasure at how his press secretary, Courtney Boone, was handling the issue. "I'm a little pissed at Courtney," Stevens wrote. "She didn't listen to the question and didn't really find out who the questioner was. I'm telling her that only happens once on my team."

Also in his testimony Friday, Stevens told the jury that his wife received all the bills and paid for all of the work done on his house.

A federal grand jury indicted Stevens in July for allegedly lying on financial disclosure forms required by the U.S. Senate. Prosecutors claim Stevens omitted $250,000 in gifts, including the house renovation.