Siegelman: Rove’s ‘fingerprints are smeared all over this case.’?
Will this be a problem for Rove?
TP-Former Alabama Governor Don Siegelman (D) was released from prison today so he can testify to the House Judiciary Committee about the controversial prosecution that led to his incarceration. In an interview shortly after his release, Siegelman singled out former White House aide Karl Rove’s involvement in his case:
In a telephone interview shortly after he walked out of a federal prison in Oakdale, La., Mr. Siegelman said there had been “abuse of power” in his case, and repeatedly cited the influence of Karl Rove, the former White House political director.
“His fingerprints are smeared all over the case,” Mr. Siegelman said, a day after a federal appeals court ordered him released on bond and said there were legitimate questions about his case.
March 28th, 2008 at 9:17 pm
FROM USATODAY
Former Ala. governor leaves prison
Former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman was released on bond from a federal prison Friday, saying he remains upbeat despite serving nine months for corruption.
Leaving the prison in a black sport-utility vehicle, he stopped on a road outside the lockup to comment. He wore a ragged shirt that appeared to be prison clothing.
“I may have lost my freedom for awhile, but I never lost faith,” Siegelman, 62, told reporters.
A federal appeals court ruled Thursday that Siegelman should be released while he appeals his conviction.
He declined to comment further, saying, “I want to be with my family for a few days.” But he said he would make a statement when he reaches his home in Birmingham, Ala.
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Siegelman attorney David McDonald said the former governor called him two or three times in the first couple of hours after his release.
“For nine months it has felt like a part of us were in the prison with him,” McDonald said. “To have him be able to call whenever he wants, we have been like a couple of schoolgirls on the phone.”
Siegelman was placed in federal custody after being sentenced in June to more than seven years in prison for bribery-related counts and one obstruction of justice count.
The House Judiciary Committee also has announced that it wants to hear Siegelman’s views when it probes claims of selective prosecution by the Justice Department.
Siegelman has maintained that certain Republicans targeted him after he was elected governor in 1998. The House committee has begun reviewing his case as part of a broader investigation into allegations of political meddling in federal prosecutions.
The committee hopes to hear from Siegelman in May.
Federal prosecutors accused Siegelman of appointing Richard Scrushy, HealthSouth CEO at the time, to a hospital regulatory board in exchange for Scrushy arranging $500,000 in contributions to Siegelman’s campaign for a statewide lottery.
Scrushy, who was tried along with Siegelman, also was convicted on bribery counts and is serving a sentence of nearly seven years. The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that the multimillionaire Birmingham businessman is a potential flight risk, but that Siegelman is not.
Siegelman also was convicted of a separate obstruction of justice charge concerning $9,200 he received from a lobbyist to help with the purchase of a motorcycle. His attorneys have said it was a legitimate transaction.
Chief prosecutor Louis Franklin said he was disappointed by the ruling, but still expects the appellate court will rule against Siegelman’s appeal.
The appeals process had been delayed for months after the court reporter during the trial died and the transcript was not completed as it normally would have.
March 31st, 2008 at 3:05 pm
John,
Do you support convicted, corrupt elected officials like Siegelman?
March 31st, 2008 at 3:09 pm
Compared to Bush and Cheney he is a choir boy.
March 31st, 2008 at 3:44 pm
Compared to Bush and Cheney, he’s convicted.
Do you think that his crimes against taxpayers should have been ignored?
March 31st, 2008 at 3:55 pm
Bart if what he did was a crime Bush should do life!
April 1st, 2008 at 1:05 pm
What has Bush done John? And why has he avoided prosecution if he is so guilty with the opposition party in charge of Congress?
Do you think Americans should ignore criminal activity by elected officials like convicted dirtbag Don Siegelman?