Republicans rushed Wednesday to distance themselves from Sen. Ted Stevens as the longest-serving GOP senator’s career plunged deeper into turmoil.

A stunning blow for the Alaska Republican came when the reelection campaign of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R) announced that it would donate $10,000 received from Stevens to a Christian mission in the senator’s home state of Kentucky.

Stevens faces seven felony charges for concealing $250,000 in gifts from an oil services company. He has said he is innocent and is seeking a seventh full term.

While Republicans say Stevens should be presumed innocent, the GOP — including McConnell — is eager not to be linked to the embattled senator.

Sens. Elizabeth Dole (R-N.C.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Gordon Smith (R-Ore.), John Sununu (R-N.H.), Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) all said they would donate thousands of dollars linked to Stevens. Ex-Agriculture Secretary and -Nebraska Gov. Mike Johanns (R), the favorite for that state’s open Senate seat, is also donating the money he received from the PAC.

“It sends a signal that [McConnell] is disassociating himself from him,” a senior GOP aide said.

Sen. John Ensign (Nev.), chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, declined to endorse Stevens in his reelection bid and during his GOP primary, where he faces six challengers — two of them well-funded — on Aug. 26.

“There is a process that is in place, and we are letting the process play out,” Ensign said. “That is my statement; that is all you’ll get out of me.”

Republicans privately predicted the senator would either lose the primary in August or reelection in the fall, or be found guilty and leave the race.

“He almost certainly will not be returning,” another senior GOP aide said, adding that there was little reason to call on Stevens to resign his seat.