Jailed Ex Gov. To Be Released For Appeal

Court Approves Release Of Don Siegelman While He Appeals Bribery Conviction

(CBS/AP)  A federal appeals court has approved the release of former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman on bond while he appeals his bribery conviction.

The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on Thursday that Siegelman has met the legal standard necessary to allow him to be free from prison while he seeks to show he was wrongly convicted.

The former Democratic governor is serving a sentence of more than seven years for six bribery-related counts and one obstruction count. He began serving the term last June.

Earlier on Thursday, the House Judiciary Committee asked the Justice Department to temporarily release Siegelman from prison in early May to testify before Congress about possible political influence over his prosecution.

A spokeswoman for the committee said Siegelman would travel to Washington under guard of the U.S. Marshals Service. She said Committee Chairman John Conyers, a Michigan Democrat, believes Siegelman could provide important information about Justice Department practices under President Bush.

"The chairman has determined it would be appropriate to hear from Mr. Siegelman himself and believes he would have a lot to add to the committee's investigation into selective prosecution," spokeswoman Melanie Roussell said.

The Justice Department had no immediate comment.

Democrats last year began reviewing Siegelman's 2006 corruption conviction as part of a broader investigation into allegations of political meddling in Justice affairs by the Bush administration.

Justice and the federal prosecutors who handled the prosecution have denied any political influence, emphasizing that Siegelman was convicted by a jury. But critics, including about 50 former state attorneys general, have called for a review and said the case raises a number of questions.

The effort gained momentum after a Republican lawyer who had volunteered for Siegelman's re-election opponent - current Republican Gov. Bob Riley - said she overheard conversations suggesting that former White House adviser Karl Rove was talking with Justice officials about Siegelman's prosecution.

Last month, "60 Minutes" reported that a key witness against Siegelman said that prosecutors met with him some 70 times and had him repeatedly write out his testimony because they were frustrated with his recollection of events.

Siegelman was elected governor in 1998 and served one term before narrowly losing re-election to Riley in 2002, as reports of corruption investigations clouded Siegelman's administration.

Siegelman was originally indicted in 2004 on charges of conspiring to rig bids on state Medicaid contracts. Prosecutors dropped the case, however, after a judge ruled there was insufficient evidence to support key charges.

Siegelman was indicted again a year later in a separate bribery and corruption case.

In June 2006, he was convicted on six bribery-related and one obstruction of justice charge. He began serving his sentence last June.

Siegelman was accused of appointing then-HealthSouth CEO Richard Scrushy to an important hospital regulatory board in exchange for Scrushy arranging $500,000 in disguised contributions to Siegelman's campaign for a statewide lottery. Siegelman was also convicted of a separate obstruction of justice charge concerning $9,200 he received from a former lobbyist to help with the purchase of a motorcycle.

A member of Siegelman's defense team, which is working on his appeal, said Thursday the former governor already has agreed to testify to Congress.

"They seem to think it's critical to straighten out the Justice Department to have him shed whatever light he can," attorney Vince Kilborn said. "He's delighted to cooperate. There are no restrictions on questions they can ask him."

[anonbene]

after what happened to joe wilson and valerie plame I will be looking forward to his testimony with great anticipation.

[antoniof123]

The noose seems to be closing around the neo cons neck. I bet in the next few months the subpoenas start to grow in numbers. Then watch the neo cons on this board yell, rant and rave. Makes you want to ask the question did they do the same when they were the ones issuing the subpoenas.

Good luck neo cons the nightmare begins and it will not end for a long time.

[tomanyt]

Very interesting. I am looking forward to his testimony to congress.

[newsjunky5]

Hope he doesn''t disappear, or get "suicided" before he can testify. Then the White House would have to call him irresponsible for not showing up.

[singingrick]

This was just one more case of the Bu$h administration using the Justice Department as a political arm of the Republican party.

[rudy654-2009]

Seriously, this man was the victim of pure political games. What happened to this man weakens the scales of justices in this country beyond belief. I wonder if the corrupt judge in this case is still refusing to releaset the trial transcripts?

[benhorn]

First, there is an error in the story: "narrowly losing re-election to Riley in 2002". Siegelman won the election when the ballots were counted. The Republicans found thousands of new votes for Riley after the democratic election judges went home for the night.

There is little doubt that Karl Rove instigated the Justice Dept''s multiple investigations of Siegelman. The legal case consisted of a biased legal system, trumped-up charges and coached witnesses. The Republican judge was known to have a grudge against Siegelman. You can find numerous stories about the federal prosecutor''s agenda against the Democrats. She was also angry about having botched a previous prosecution of Siegelman which was thrown out of court. Watch the 60 Minutes piece for more details.

The Republicans will try to prevent Siegelman from testifying before Congress. We must not let them win.

[rudy654-2009]

Remember that creep Karl Rove still has refused to testify in this case. Executive privilege and all.

[benhorn]

The trial transcript was just completed in the past few days. They are charging $30,000 per copy...

...another Republican dirty trick. Have we no laws to protect us?

[excoachken]

This is what happens to a democracy, when one political party controls government and is lead by people without a conscience.

[parrot123-2009]

Here comes the Alabama stink ...... Cheers!

[parrot123-2009]

Remember that creep Karl Rove still has refused to testify in this case. Executive privilege and all.
Posted by rudy654 at 03:51 PM : Mar 27, 2008

He can''t claim Executive Privilege unless Dumbya was involved - and if he does .... it''s no longer Repugs controlling congress. This inquiry will result in a new crop of convicted Repugs and i was just wondering *** with the silence from Repugs - There''s been no news since Jim Clark, Murkowski and Ward. I just knew Repugs could never dissapoint, it''s in their nature. Cheers!

[newsjunky5]

If they find a miscarriage of justice and Siegelman is released, but no punishment is handed out to the gangsters who perpetrated this, it''s worth trying again. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

[stevex47]

Absolutely NO PARDONS for anyone in this administration. For the country to move forward, Justice will need to be served. The high crimes commited against We The People, and the World will be revealed after these criminals are out of office.

[singingrick]

This is disgusting. I can''t believe that our Justice System has been so corrupted that it''s been turned into a Republican "Just Us" system.

[donbl1]

Pure politics.

What is this criminal going to say? Of course he is going to say it was politically motivated even though the feds have witnesses.

I guess a federal judge and jury are unimportant to this Democratic House. politics are only what is important.

Shame on them.

[cfin5]

Hey, while your at it get our two Border Agents up there too. Not to mention that "Nifongish" prosecuting Attorney that put them there for doing their job! I''m sure that would be much more interesting in shedding some light on how things are done.

[byeneocons]

So it turns out The Great Uniter and his partisan thugs really just about obliterated anyone who disagreed with them in the past eight years.

Only ten months left of Tony Soprano in the White House.

[bretster7]

saveusa2008 said,
First, there is an error in the story: "narrowly losing re-election to Riley in 2002". Siegelman won the election when the ballots were counted. The Republicans found thousands of new votes for Riley after the democratic election judges went home for the night.


That''s right only "Wascaly Webulicans" steal elections right. Betcha don''t know or even care what happened in the Govenors race in Washington State in 2004. The Rebublican candidate, Dino Rossi, won the election by 3000 votes, a slim enough margin to enact an automatic recount. The recount was done, and he still won by over 2000 votes. But the Democrat wanted a hand recount. No problem. The hand recount was done, and the Rebublican still won, this time with a larger margin. The secretary of state (a democrat) would not certify the election. The law dictated that with two recounts, the election would have to be certified. The Dems decided to sue(big surprise) to get yet another hand recount, but this time only the predominately Democrat counties of King, Peirce, and Snohomish.( they learned well from Florida 2000)After this recount the Democrat won by less than 200 votes,by the way almost 1500 ballots were "found" in a King county polling place, and the election was certified, by the Dem secretary of state, big surprise. As this situation drug out it was found that over 1000 ballots were either cast by dead people, people who voted twice, or people not eligble to vote.

[bretster7]

Part Two,

The Republican decided to fight this, but was shot down by the Attorney General(another Dem). His statement was that unless he witnessed voter fraud first hand, it did not exist. By the way, he was one of the AG''s fired by Gonzales for not performing his duties, which was within Gonzales'' right as AG, but was demonized by you lib''s and the press for just doing his job.
Now with a Dem controlled state we went from a budget surplus to a deficite of 8 billion dollars. But you probably did not know any of this because it got little attention by the media. Had the roles been reversed it would have been a lead story for weeks, and the "evil election stealing Rebuplicans" would have been the mantra by the hypocritical left.
So saveUS2008, take the plank out of your eye before you accuse others of having a sliver in theirs

[gwagener]

Absolutely NO PARDONS for anyone in this administration. For the country to move forward, Justice will need to be served. The high crimes commited against We The People, and the World will be revealed after these criminals are out of office.
-----------------
Posted by stevex47 at 04:16 PM : Mar 27, 2008

Get real, the pardon list in January 2009 is going to be the size of a major metropolitan phone book. Many people who have not been charged with anything will be given pardons for unspecified crimes. That is the only way GWB can protect his legacy.

[singingrick]

donbl1

Dear partisan moron with your head up your backside...actually read the article and watch the video.

[ioweign]

Pure politics.

What is this criminal going to say? Of course he is going to say it was politically motivated even though the feds have witnesses.

I guess a federal judge and jury are unimportant to this Democratic House. politics are only what is important.

Shame on them.

Posted by donbl1 at 04:30 PM : Mar 27, 2008

Pure politics on the part of the Republicans. Even Republican state attorneys say this should be looked at closer. Witness tampering on the part of the Department of Justice.

[benhorn]

"Betcha don''''t know or even care what happened in the Govenors race in Washington State in 2004"

You''re wrong. I want every election to be fairly administered regardless of which party wins.

I also want the Justice Dept to be independent, not politically biased. I want the executive branch to be held accountable when they break the law, regardless of which party is in office.

I love politics. However, the law and the administration of the law must be apolitical. Otherwise our democracy is worth nothing.

[bm6005]

Only ten months left of Tony Soprano in the White House.
Posted by ByeNeocons

Please don''t insult Tony. He''d make a much better pres than the current 1/3 of one that we have!!

[benhorn]

NEWS FLASH:

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) -- A federal appeals court has approved the release of former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman on bond while he appeals his bribery conviction.

[singingrick]

No crime was even committed by the governor. This a political lynching. Our justice system should not be used as a political arm of the Republicon party.

[barefootboy9]

This governor was wrongly convicted. I have been keeping up with this from day one and most people that know the case say he should not be in prison.

[mrconservatv]

Justice and the federal prosecutors who handled the prosecution have denied any political influence, emphasizing that Siegelman was convicted by a jury. But critics, including about 50 former state attorneys general, have called for a review and said the case raises a number of questions.

The effort gained momentum after a Republican lawyer who had volunteered for Siegelman''s re-election opponent - current Republican Gov. Bob Riley - said she overheard conversations suggesting that former White House adviser Karl Rove was talking with Justice officials about Siegelman''s prosecution.

Last month, "60 Minutes" reported that a key witness against Siegelman said that prosecutors met with him some 70 times and had him repeatedly write out his testimony because they were frustrated with his recollection of events.


MORE REPUBLICAN CORRUPTION

REVIEW 9/11

REVIEW 9/11

[jntlw-2009]

Neocon Republicans are sick brainwashed criminals and they will receive their just reward.

[roger_inkart]

Let''s see how many GOP cockroaches scatter when the rock is flipped over on this one.

Good Lord...just when you think the Bush administration and the GOP have reached the bottom you learn more about them that makes them all the more loathesome.

[rowdytexan2]

Well done, Congress!

[joyous88]

another political prisoner in the

evangelical war against humanity

[newsjunky5]

If this group of criminals can put an innocent man in jail, and expose undercover CIA agents who''s husband disagrees with them, is it that outlandish that they would get someone to crash an airplane or four?

[newsjunky5]

I think it''s time we pulled the plug on Cheney. Haha

[bretster7]

What no comments from you libs on my post about Dems stealing the election in Washington state? No surprise there. BTW Why such hateful words, aren''t you supposed to be the tollerant kind one''s. LOL

[gce65]

I hope this gets in court soon enough to embarrass Rove and the other neocons involved in his set-up and railroading. But most of all, I hope he proves himself not guilty for himself and his family.

[gce65]

bretster:
I''ll take a stab at it. Dems don''t steal elections like the GOP does, they win them by accurate vote counting. It''s refreshing to see all the big money Republi-cons defeated by simple (small "d") democracy.

[iknowbest-2009]

Gee, a Democrat in jail for complete lack of character. Shocking.

[gce65]

When 50 former state attorneys general--Republican and Democrat--call for a review of any case, that should be a huge red flag that something is not right with the case.

[mcvet]

Great!! At least there is ONE honest Judge left!!

[mcv57]

Who says that this corrupt government gives equal justice. If this governor can get out of jail for an appeal, let them all the convicts out for an appeal. This government must have gotten a good hefty bribe on this joker.

[mcv57]

Who says that this corrupt government gives equal justice. If this governor can get out of jail for an appeal, let them all the convicts out for an appeal. This government must have gotten a good hefty bribe on this joker.

[mcv57]

Who says that this corrupt government gives equal justice. If this governor can get out of jail for an appeal, let them all the convicts out for an appeal. This government must have gotten a good hefty bribe on this joker.

[bretster7]

gce65 said,
bretster:
I''''ll take a stab at it. Dems don''''t steal elections like the GOP does, they win them by accurate vote counting. It''''s refreshing to see all the big money Republi-cons defeated by simple (small "d") democracy.


So gce65, you either a) did not read the posts (both of them)b) read the posts but are too ignorant to understand what happened. or c) are just so partisan that you can never admit your party ever does anything wrong. Which is it? all three.

[bretster7]

gce65 said,
bretster:
I''''ll take a stab at it. Dems don''''t steal elections like the GOP does, they win them by accurate vote counting. It''''s refreshing to see all the big money Republi-cons defeated by simple (small "d") democracy.


So gce65, you either a) did not read the posts (both of them)b) read the posts but are too ignorant to understand what happened. or c) are just so partisan that you can never admit your party ever does anything wrong. Which is it? all three.

[iknowbest-2009]

I know that another *** sack democrat got busted, after preaching holier than thou throughout his career. Gee, now how many times has that happened before....

[iknowbest-2009]

I know that another *** sack democrat got busted, after preaching holier than thou throughout his career. Gee, now how many times has that happened before....

[iknowbest-2009]

I know that another *** sack democrat got busted, after preaching holier than thou throughout his career. Gee, now how many times has that happened before....

[iknowbest-2009]

The only thing ahead for you, ace is four more years of the GOP. Unless, of course you leave if that happens. There is reason to hope.