60 Minutes exposes politicized Justice Department
The former Governor of Alabama, a Democrat, is a political prisoner serving seven years. This segment demonstrates why Bush/Rove’s firings of attorneys general for refusing to prosecute Democrats for purely political reasons is poison to democracy.
Now the rest of the story:
Former Alabama Governor Don Siegelman, Former HealthSouth CEO Richard Scrushy Convicted of Bribery, Conspiracy and Fraud
WASHINGTON – A jury in Montgomery, Ala. convicted former Alabama Governor Don Eugene Siegelman and former HealthSouth Chief Executive Officer Richard Scrushy of conspiracy, bribery and fraud, Assistant Attorney General Alice S. Fisher for the Criminal Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Louis V. Franklin, Sr. of the Middle District of Alabama announced today.
Siegelman, 60, was convicted on seven of the 33 counts against him: one count of bribery, one count of conspiracy to commit honest services mail fraud, four counts of honest services mail fraud and one count of obstruction of justice. Siegelman was acquitted on charges of racketeering, honest services wire fraud, extortion, obstruction of justice, and 16 counts of honest services mail fraud. Scrushy, 53, was convicted on all of the six counts with which he was charged: one count of bribery, one count of conspiracy to commit honest services mail fraud, and four counts of honest services mail fraud. Siegelman’s former Chief of Staff Paul Hamrick and his former Highway Director Gary “Mac” Roberts were acquitted on all charges.
Maximum penalties for the charges are as follows: conspiracy to commit honest services mail fraud, 5 years in prison; bribery, 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine; honest services mail fraud, 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine; obstruction of justice, 10 years in prison.
“With today’s verdict, this jury sends the message that Americans will not tolerate the bribery of our public officials. Bribery of this sort—between a sitting governor and a corporate chief executive officer—has a devastating impact on public confidence in our government,” said Assistant Attorney General Fisher. “The Justice Department will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute corrupt public officials and those who conspire to corrupt them.”
Siegelman was convicted of mail fraud arising from a pay-for-play scheme in which he exchanged official acts and influence for cash, property, and services from Alabama businessman and consultant Clayton “Lanny” Young. The jury found that Siegelman took thousands of dollars in bribes from Young to aid Young’s business interests, including the awarding of contracts to companies controlled by Young. The jury also found Siegelman and Scrushy guilty of crimes arising from a bribery scheme in which Scrushy paid Siegelman $500,000 in laundered funds to obtain a seat on a state regulatory board governing HealthSouth.
“We know the jury worked hard to decide this case and we are pleased with their verdict,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Franklin. “Their verdict today sends a clear message that the integrity of Alabama’s government is not for sale.”
The case was prosecuted by Acting U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama Louis V. Franklin, Sr., and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen P. Feaga and J.B. Perrine, Middle District of Alabama; Trial Attorney Richard Pilger of the Public Integrity Section of the Criminal Division; and Assistant Attorneys General Joseph Fitzpatrick and Jenny Garrett for the State of Alabama.
The investigation was conducted jointly by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, agents from the Alabama Attorney General’s Office, and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of Inspector General.
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Interesting how 60 Minutes didn’t even mention Clayton “Lanny” Young who was at the center of the charges against the corrupt AL governor.
Lefty — Based on your opinion of this case, one can assume you would consider Scooter Libby to be a political prisoner as well.
Why did they not go after Tom Delay?
John,
What are you talking about…’they’ destroyed Tom Delay — http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/28/AR2005092800270.html
Do you think Scooter Libby is a political prisoner?
bb: I can understand why you didn’t include a link to—or name the source of—the article you posted. It’s from the politicized DOJ.
Your evidence that the DOJ hasn’t done anything wrong is a statement from the DOJ.
Nice try.
Bart That was not the DOJ!
Come on Bart Lefty is right that was a bad source!
Should Rove go to jail if this is true?
The DOJ is a bad source…compared to 60 Minutes…LOL!
The question still remains, why didn’t your ‘credible’ source cover the most significant charges against Siegelman?
This is a classic case of good ol boy favoritism that occurs daily in so many jurisdictions. Why do you both think it is OK to ignore corruption on such a high level?
Do you think Scooter Libby is a political prisoner?
Bart
It is a Republican AG that is behind fixing the injustice.
John,
What injustice? A jury found the former governor guilty based on the evidence produced by state and federal prosecutors.
Maybe the governor should examine his choice of defense attorneys!!
bb: You didn’t seem to be so enamored with the DOJ as a source of truth when they prosecuted Scooter.
Lefty,
Who says anything about being enamored with the DOJ? I referenced the press release because it identifies a serious fault with the 60 Minutes report. Why did your supposed credible source ignore such an important facet of the prosecution?
Do you think Libby is a political prisoner?
bb: Fitzgerald and Libby are both Republicans!
Siegelman is a Democrat that was explicitly targeted by the Republican Bush administration, who also fired a number of prosecutors because they weren’t aggressive enough in prosecuting Democrats.
Do you see how much harder that pesky fact makes it for you to argue “political prisoner” status for Libby?
Lefty,
Where did I argue that Libby is a political prisoner…I simply asked you and John. Based on your portrayal of Siegelman as such, then Libby must indeed fall into the same category…in fact, even moreso because despite all the time spent investigating, they didn’t get anything substantial against him, Cheney, Bush or the rest of their targets.
So again I ask, do you think it was proper for your ‘credible’ source to ignore the most significant aspect of the prosecution’s case against Siegelman?
bb: Good question. Why do you think the 52 former state attorneys-general, of both parties, who’ve asked Congress to investigate the Siegelman case weren’t persuaded by it?
You seem to be the only one characterizing it as the “most significant” aspect of the case.
The misrepresentation of the Scrushy bribary charge casts everyting else in the case in a suspect light. Agreed?
Ramos and Compean are still in prison, and that is enough of a testiment to the pervase corruption of the Justice Department and the administration. We have lost all semblance of representative government of the people and balance of power.
Lefty,
So far, there is one AG on record…we are supposed to take the word of 60 Minutes (remember..same show that used false documents just before an election to try and impugn President Bush along with many other cases of journalistic malfeasance) regarding the rest.
The DOJ by their PR considers the Young briberies to be more significant…read this paragraph again:
“Siegelman was convicted of mail fraud arising from a pay-for-play scheme in which he exchanged official acts and influence for cash, property, and services from Alabama businessman and consultant Clayton “Lanny” Young. The jury found that Siegelman took thousands of dollars in bribes from Young to aid Young’s business interests, including the awarding of contracts to companies controlled by Young. The jury also found Siegelman and Scrushy guilty of crimes arising from a bribery scheme in which Scrushy paid Siegelman $500,000 in laundered funds to obtain a seat on a state regulatory board governing HealthSouth.”
I agree that Siegelman abused his office, got caught and suffered the consequences. This means there is one less crooked politician holding public office which should be considered a positive outcome by any clear thinking American.
One more thought…former Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell was targeted (and convicted)by feds for similar criminal activities…is he a political prisoner?
#17 awaiting moderation…reply hopefully will be visible soon Lefty.
Found this on Peach Pundit…hat tip to SpaceyG:
http://www.influenceexplorer.com/
Have fun…Georgians should check out Saxby…number 1 in the state for earmarks.
bb: Re #17, if in fact there are 52 former state attorneys-general, of both parties, who’ve asked Congress to investigate the Siegelman case, as 60 Minutes reported, would you conceed that this prosecution stinks of political hackery?
Lefty,
Where is the proof that 52 AGs stepped forward to call for action on this case?
I concede only that Siegelman was found guilty of heinous crimes resulting from his blatant abuse of the power bestowed upon him by the (idiot) voters of Alabama. He got what he deserved.
But if somehow the verdict is overturned, I hope he gets into a snowball fight in Philadelphia!
bb: LOL.
OK, so when I kick up the signed list of 52, you and I are in 100% agreement here, right?
Lefty,
No. But if you can find the list, I will concede that one point.
No matter what, Siegelman was found guilty and it is a good thing anytime an elected official is publicly exposed as a crook vs. letting him/her continue making decisions based on illegal bribes.
If there’s injustice in the Justice department is there more injustice outside the Justice Department? and would there be more justice or less justice without so many departments?
If we’re outside the Department do we have to worry about justice even if we’re not a justice of the peace?