Hawai'i Democratic Sen. Daniel K. Inouye is pleased that the criminal conviction last year against his old friend, former Republican Sen. Ted Stevens of Alaska, will be abandoned.

In a statement yesterday, Inouye said, "I believe the Justice Department did the right thing. I'm happy for Ted and his family."

Stevens was chairman of or top Republican on the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee during much of this decade, while Inouye was among its most senior Democrats. Inouye took over the chairmanship this year.