Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, pleaded innocent Thursday to seven federal felony charges that he made false statements on his Senate financial disclosure forms.

Stevens’ lawyer, Brendan Sullivan, asked U.S. District Court Judge Emmet G. Sullivan to set the senator’s trial date before the Nov. 4 general elections.

“I’m here today not to seek any special favors because he’s a senator,” the lawyer said. “But I do want to ask the court to give consideration to the fact that he would like to clear his name before the general election.”

The 84-year old Stevens, the Senate’s longest-serving Republican, is trailing his likely Democratic opponent, Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich, in the polls as he seeks his seventh full six-year term.

Stevens’ lawyers told the judge they intend to seek a change of venue from Washington, D.C., to Alaska.

Prosecutors said they expect to take about three weeks to present their case, while Stevens’ lawyers said the defense would probably need about a week.

A 28-page indictment, issued July 29, charges that Stevens concealed his acceptance of more than $250,000 worth of benefits from Veco Corp., an oil services company, and its former chief executive, Bill Allen, from 1999 to 2006.

The benefits allegedly included substantial renovation and enlargement of his house in Girdwood, Alaska, household goods and automobiles that were significantly more valuable than ones he offered in exchange.

The indictment also claims Stevens used his Senate position to help Veco — at the request of Allen and other company employees — pursue federal grants, explore projects in Pakistan and Russia, and construct a natural gas pipeline in Alaska’s North Slope.