Ala. Gov.'s Corruption Case Questioned

Attorneys General Ask Congress To Investigate Whether Politics Played Role In Don Siegelman's Prosecution

(AP)  Forty-four former state attorneys general have asked Congress to investigate whether politics at the Justice Department influenced the prosecution of former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman on corruption charges.

Siegelman, a Democrat, was convicted last year of bribery and other charges. He was sentenced last month to more than seven years in prison.

Democrats have long maintained that his prosecution was politically motivated, and recent allegations that White House officials were steering decisions at the Justice Department have added weight to the claims.

Last month, a Republican lawyer who worked on the campaign of Siegelman's opponent in 2006 signed a sworn affidavit saying that she overheard conversations among GOP operatives suggesting that the White House was involved in Siegelman's prosecution.

"The only way to convince the public that the governor is not the victim of a politically motivated double-standard is for Congress to investigate all aspects of the case thoroughly," the former attorneys general wrote to the chairmen of the House and Senate judiciary committees.

The group includes Democrats and Republicans and is led by Jeff Modisett, an Indiana Democrat, Bob Abrams, a New York Democrat, Bob Stefan, a Kansas Republican, and Grant Woods, an Arizona Republican.

Congressional Democrats already are investigating whether the White House ordered the firings of several federal prosecutors last year for political reasons. President Bush and Attorney General Alberto Gonzales have denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that federal prosecutors are political appointees who can be fired by the president for almost any reason.

Bush has, however, acknowledged that Gonzales poorly handled explaining the administration's policy to Congress.

[realpatriot1]

infidel_US,

Let's agree that neither of us knows the facts of this case or the relative merits of either the original convictions or whether or not an exoneration is warranted.

This is a bipartison effort to take another look at it. What's telling is that Republican AG's are able to see what you apparently can't, that the way that this was handled left a stench that raises questions as to whether justice was actually served. Taking another look doesn't mean that the convictions will be overturned, they might be reinforced. The point is that even Republicans have little faith in the integrity of this White House or Justice department.

[muzzlebush]

How many more stories like this need to be unearthed before Pelosi and company finally start the impeachment process?
WE elect congress to represent US. They're public servants just like the policemen, firefighters, and street sweepers. It's time they did what we sent them to Washington to do.

[infidel_us]

LOL.....libs are too much. Excuse the dems, convict the republicans. And that's your idea of fair? Pathetic little peons.

[mcvet]

Another politician that does not know where that money in his pocket came from.
Posted by my2centss at 05:03 PM : Jul 16, 2007

Huh?

[red164]

I Accuse%u2026 44 Attorneys General Demand an Inquiry Into the Siegelman Prosecution
Scott Horton
PUBLISHED July 16, 2007

http://harpers.org/archive/2007/07/hbc-90000530

A Shocking Miscarriage of Justice
The forty-four attorneys general, Democrats and Republicans alike, drawn from across the country point to these badges of injustice in the Siegelman case (my comments in italics):

[my2centss]

Another politician that does not know where that money in his pocket came from.

[motherjones-2009]

The politically motivated prosecution of Don Siegleman, once a rising star in southern politics, has Karl Rove's fingerprints all over it. Once congressional investigotors start digging into this, and the media starts editorializing about it, the pathological misconduct of the bush Justice Department will be exposed for all the world to see. It won't be a pretty sight.

[forthepeopl1]

hey hadley, how much is this adminastration paying you to lie and have our troops murderd by this adminastration..you k/i/s/s/ a/s/s/

Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said Saturday that the Iraqi army and police are capable of keeping security in the country when American troops leave "any time they want," though he acknowledged the forces need further weapons and training.

OK THE WHAT IN THE HELL ARE WE STILL THERE, AS THE PRESIDENT HAS STATED ONCE AL-MALIKI TELLS US HE DOESN'T WANT US THERE WE WILL LEAVE.

ITS TIME FOR OUR SEN/REPS TO REMINDE HIM OF WHAT HE HAS STATED..NOW LETS GET THE F/U/C/K/ OUT OF THERE.

so how about looking up how many times this dirt bag of a president and his side kick cheney has told all america that if they say they dont need us than we will leave.

so how about it mr president you said many times we will leave if they dont need us. so how about it..

congress and all media should be pounding what he has stated on tv many many times..put this in his face all day and night.

its time for someone with b/a/l/l/s/ in the media to start telling the truth to america..

how about startting with this.....

[rharrin1]

This is exactly why bush doesn't want anybody to testify.