Former Attorneys Generals [sic] Urge Pardon for Don Siegelman

[IDemo]

Last edited Thu Apr 14, 2016, 09:23 AM - Edit history (1)

Source: ABC News

A bipartisan group of more than 100 former state attorneys general has asked President Barack Obama to pardon ex-Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman, who is nearing the end of a six-year prison sentence for bribery and obstruction of justice.

Former New York Attorney General Bob Abrams said they believe the Democrat's conviction nearly a decade ago was both unjust and tarnished by politics. The letter from the group, which also supported Siegelman's unsuccessful legal appeals, was delivered to the White House on Wednesday.

"Although nine years have passed, Gov. Siegelman's unjust conviction continues to eat away at the integrity of the justice system," the former attorneys general wrote. "Many legal scholars as well as the public at large believe that the prosecution of Gov. Siegelman was a perversion of justice."

Presidential intervention in the form of a pardon or sentence commutation is likely Siegelman's final hope of getting his prison time reduced. Appellate courts have upheld his conviction.

Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/attorneys-generals-urge-pardon-don-siegelman-38360810

[SpankMe]

1. Hell, yeah. Pardon. NOW!

I have been an Obama fan and supporter. But, if POTUS doesn't pardon Siegelman then my opinion of him post-presidency will be tarnished.

[Betty Karlson]

25. That one is already tarnished by letting Clinton turn Libya into an ISIS stronghold. eom

[rhett o rick]

54. He already hurt his legacy by leaving the Gov stay in this long. I think the decision is coming

from someone with a higher paygrade.

[Hiraeth]

77. higher paygrade? who would that be? curiously stated

[rhett o rick]

81. Gen James Clapper is my guess. nm

[bjobotts]

58. The real question is why is it taking so long to pardon Don Siegleman who was also

cheated out of his winning an election for gov.

[rhett o rick]

82. Obviously someone with enormous power doesn't like the Governor. nm

[blackspade]

2. His conviction was a steaming sack of partisan bullshit.

I can't wait until he gets out and blows the lid off this farse.

[L. Coyote]

63. More like a stolen election and a plot to prevent his election.

A steaming sack doesn't smell nearly as much.

Deja DU:

Gov. Don Siegelman, the Roughly $3.6 Billion, ExxonMobil, and Pissing Off BIG OIL.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3070446

[blackspade]

64. That too...,

Let him go!!!

[yallerdawg]

3. You know what's really amazing - and disturbing?

Our "left" accuses Hillary Clinton of the same thing the "right" put Siegelman in jail for!

Anything over $27 is a bribe, not a campaign contribution?

The left needs to get on the right side of this!

[Akamai]

11. There are demonstrations in Washington, DC, now with people very willilng to be arrested

in an effort to get big money out of politics. Those people are certainly progressive.

The thing that put Don Siegelman in prison was a corrupt system managed by cronies of Karl Rove and endorsed by W. Bush, not progressive democrats who want to get big money out of politics.

I have heard Don Siegelman repeatedly on the Thom Hartmann radio show and it is clear that Siegelman faced a kangeroo court with a paid witness against him, judges out to get him, etc. Indeed, several months ago, because he had a radio interview with Thom Hartmann, he was moved into solitary confinement where he remained for a long period of time.

The case against Siegelman stinks to high heaven.

Go Bernie!!!

[yallerdawg]

17. There's the trap that has caught Don Siegelman.

How can we rail against big money in politics and then pardon politicians who are in essence convicted of going after big money?

[Major Nikon]

27. The trap that "caught" Don Siegelman was completely fabricated

I'm not sure why you continue to harp on this false equivalency.

[yallerdawg]

30. I voted for Siegelman every time he was on a ballot.

I watched how the right conflated the Scrushy contribution to the state lottery campaign into a quid pro quo bribe conviction.

I have watched Siegelman's tribulations ever since, and no matter what anyone does or appeals, the conviction continues to stand.

The Republicans - and now the left - equate campaign contributions to bribes. Never mind the hypocrisy.

[Major Nikon]

43. I don't know that claim is true for either Republicans or the left

You seem to be contradicting yourself here. The Republican prosecutor's charge was quid pro quo which you even admit, not equating contributions to bribes. The fact that it continues to stand doesn't mean all that much. Unless there is proof the prosecution's case was malicious, which is nearly impossible to prove, the case for overturning a conviction just isn't the same thing as proving it to begin with.

The "left" is claiming HRC has been substantially influenced by the money she takes, which just isn't that hard to demonstrate. So again this doesn't constitute equating "campaign contributions to bribes".

[FighttheFuture]

46. learn what you are talking about. Siegleman did nothing wrong. Also, there is nothing

illegal about using the system in place, even if it is unethical. You have to dance with the one that bought you, it doesn't mean you can't change partners after your at the ball.

[yallerdawg]

49. Learn what I am talking about?

Siegelman, now 70, was convicted by a federal court in 2006 on bribery, conspiracy and obstruction of justice charges after being accused of appointing former HealthSouth CEO Richard Scrushy to a health planning board in return for a $500,000 donation to the governor's campaign for a statewide lottery.

In October, more than 100 former attorneys general submitted briefs on his behalf.

He has seen numerous appeals rejected, and, in January, the U.S. Supreme Court said it would not review the appeal, after a lower appeals court rejected his request for a new sentencing hearing and trial.

Justice Elena Kagan, who had once been involved in the case as U.S. Solicitor General, took no part in the consideration or decision of the petition. As Solicitor General, Kagan stood against Siegelman's and Scrushy's appeals.

Scrushy also served prison time for the scheme, but was released in 2012.

I know what I'm talking about.

http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2016/04/former_alabama_gov_don_siegelm_3.html#incart_river_index

[FighttheFuture]

51. It was a railraod con job by Rove after Seigleman tried to challenge the stolen

election in that state. Go research it. Also, spare me links to "Alabama" "News", an oxymoron if I ever heard one.

[yallerdawg]

52. Obviously, facts have no impact on your opinion.

In fact, you say - "Alabama News is an oxymoron." Whatever that could possibly mean.

When the "left" gives credence to the rightwing smears - campaign contributions are merely bribes - and government is rigged and corrupt - this is what we get.

Don Siegelman, unjustly charged and convicted, has no recourse afforded him because now it is bad politics!

And we did that! (well - not me)

[druidity33]

56. Scrushy was on that Board

prior to his contributions to the Lottery campaign. There was no quid pro quo. If you had been "paying attention", you would know that the Powers that Be in AL at the time did not want to see Siegelman continue to be an effective Legislator. They took him down hard because they COULD. The fact that he is still in jail is a TRAVESTY. Yes i used capital letters there. They were warranted.

[yallerdawg]

57. So NOW a $500,000 campaign donation is just fine!

And you all fail to see - recognize - the double standard and hypocrisy applied to Hillary - who has never been charged or convicted of anything, I might add?

[FighttheFuture]

62. No just "facts" from some shit AL link you provided. Do some research; this is very old news.

Here'ssome links to help you out.
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/did-ex-alabama-governor-get-a-raw-deal

http://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/obama-pardon-don-siegelman

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/10/16/1433696/-Governor-Siegelman-Slammed-Into-Solitary

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/thom-hartmann/interview-with-former-ala_b_99338.html


I will also point out that Thom Hartmann has been on this miscarriage of justice since day 1.

[rjsquirrel]

76. Lol

Hartmann being "on it from Day 1" tells me Siegelman ain't getting pardoned any time soon.

Hartmann is also "on" a stock market collapse he's been predicting since "day 1" because it helps him sell more gold and super beets.

[FighttheFuture]

79. I provided other links than just his opinion. Ignore at your own ignorance. BTW,

Hartmann has more cred than you ever will have!

[rhett o rick]

83. Holy Smokes! How can "we" rail against big money in politics? The Clinton Wing of our Party

no longer rails against big money in politics as Clinton is making great use of it. So when you say "we", I assume you have a mouse in your pocket.

Your post seems to indicate that you think he is guilty of the crime while over 100 former Atty Generals don't. "Although nine years have passed, Gov. Siegelman's unjust conviction continues to eat away at the integrity of the justice system," the former attorneys general wrote. "Many legal scholars as well as the public at large believe that the prosecution of Gov. Siegelman was a perversion of justice."

Or maybe your saying to think he isn't guilty but we should leave him in so as not to make ourselves look like hypocrites.

And by-the-way, his conviction had nothing to do with big money in politics. He received no financial benefit and re-appointed a person to the job they previously held.

[yallerdawg]

84. This isn't about guilt or innocence.

I am pointing out infuriating hypocrisy and double standards.

Don Siegelman should be your poster boy of campaign donation corruption. He is actually convicted, verdict upheld all the way to the Supreme Court this year! - your proof of the inherent corruption of the campaign finance system shouted out every day and every way by Senator Sanders (I-VT)* and his multitude of supporters.

Instead, every few months, DUers hypocritically rally around Siegelman's cause célèbre.

Why?

Because of the politically-motivated prosecution! "Obvious Republican shenanigans and prosecutorial misconduct!" You know - just like the Republican-generated crap swirling around Hillary Clinton for three decades! Except, you'd march Hillary into prison today without an unnecessary trial!

Yes, yes - unrelated. Siegelman is convicted and Hillary is just demonized.

But can't you all find a consistency? Donations are corrupting or they are not?

You all did this. No way can President Obama pardon a convicted felon for bribery in this political environment of your making!

[rhett o rick]

85. Wow, you have a great imagination. Gov Siegelman was railroaded all the way

as over 100 former atty generals have indicated. His "guilt" was politically motivated. That could be rectified by Pres Obama. But he is a conservative thru and thru and sides with the Bush Crime Family on this.

You all did this. No way can President Obama pardon a convicted felon for bribery in this political environment of your making!

Wow, you are giving me credit for what? Pres Obama can do what he wishes. He is not constrained by anything I did. Problem is he didn't pardon the good Gov in 2008 or 2009 or 2010 or 2011, etc., when this political environment, that you are giving me credit for, didn't fracking exist.

And there is no tie between what the Gov got convicted of and political contributions like Goldman-Sachs giving H. Clinton $650,000 for her personal bank acct. The conviction was bullshit as over 100 former atty generals attest. The fact that a conservative SCOTUS upheld his conviction is also bullshit. Since when do you stand behind those assholes? I mean the conservatives of course.

[questionseverything]

39. obama's justice department has prosecuted seigleman

sad but true

[Major Nikon]

42. Indicted in 2005, convicted in 2006

[questionseverything]

44. breaks my heart but truth is truth

http://www.bradblog.com/?p=7313

What Next?

Though he quickly vacated the case against Republican Sen. Ted Stevens, and other Republican officials from Alaska, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder has made no official statements on the disposition of the Siegelman case, though in May, prosecutors in the case --- the same ones appointed by George W. Bush, who remained in their position even then --- argued in reply to Siegelman's appeal that his original sentencing of more than seven years, should now be extended to 20 years.

As of June 9th, 2009, according to a press release [PDF], "Justice Department whistleblower, Tamarah Grimes, formerly a member of the prosecution team in the case against former Governor of Alabama, Don Siegelman and former HealthSouth CEO Richard Scrushy has been terminated by the U.S. Department of Justice."

Grimes' dismissal follows on the heels of a June 1 letter she sent to Holder "providing details of the misconduct on the part of the prosecutors in the Siegelman/Scrushy trial" and following a request by Scrushy attorneys to interview her about those allegations. Grimes is also said to have "provided internal documentation to the Senate Judiciary Committee which contradicted the claims of U.S. Attorney Leura Canary and Acting U.S. Attorney Louis Franklin regarding the recusal of Leura Canary," who, apparently, never actually recused herself from the case against Siegelman, despite the conflict of interest in her husband's role as campaign chair to Siegelman's opponent, and his close ties to Karl Rove.

The agency claims Grimes' termination was unrelated to her whistleblower disclosures. Grimes, however, says the dismissal was a case of "whistleblower retaliation".

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

http://www.bradblog.com/?p=7587

But the Department of Justice, for some reason, has not budged on overturning the political prosecutions of Democrats such as Siegelman --- begging the question as to whether it believes the Democrats were properly tried. Just last month, Obama's Solicitor General Elena Kagan issued a brief urging the US Supreme Court to deny hearing Siegleman's appeal.

"We've changed things at the top but the people who are doing the work, certainly doing the work on my case are the same who worked under George Bush and Karl Rove. There's no change."

When asked, during a recent interview, why he thought Kagan filed the petition against his appeal, Siegelman told me: "The people making the decisions are the same people who have been making the decisions all along. We've changed things at the top but the people who are doing the work, certainly doing the work on my case are the same who worked under George Bush and Karl Rove. There's no change. These people [have] a vested interest in the outcome and they're going to keep fighting for the same results."

[Major Nikon]

45. That doesn't support the assertion, "obama's justice department has prosecuted seigleman"

Siegelman was prosecuted years before Obama ever took office. Bush was widely criticized and rightly so, for politicizing the DOJ, and the results speak for themselves.

Proving a prosecution was malicious is very difficult to do unless you have a smoking gun which few prosecutors are going to be stupid enough to leave. Without hard evidence, the DOJ under Obama has no choice but to petition against his appeal or they would be just as guilty of politicizing the DOJ. While certainly sad, there was no other alternative. That makes a pardon the only reasonable choice. The biggest fault of the Obama administration is not doing so as soon as he took office.

[questionseverything]

47. holder fired the whistle blower that provided the smoking gun

obama left the same people in control to further prosecute seigleman

kagan petitioning the sc to deny seigleman justice was disgusting and for him to then make her a supreme is worse

but i wouldn't want to be labeled "sanctimonious" or anything...opps that was over torture were children were raped in front of their parents to make the parents talk...ss i get my flagellant disregard for the rule of law examples mixed up

[former9thward]

69. Obama's DOJ did prosecute him.

Specifically, now Justice Kagan, who was solicitor general and fought Siegelman's appeal. She urged more prison time for him which the courts agreed to.

[All in it together]

29. This prosecution was a dirty trick by Karl Rove

Go to free-don.us for more info. [link:http://free-don.us|

His election was stolen and charges trumped up. It's not about Hillary's actions.

[yallerdawg]

32. If you believe campaign contributions are bribes...

then you are just like the people who convicted Siegelman.

Unfounded blanket accusations have consequences.

When we are just like the right, bad things happen.

[ProfessorPlum]

74. please prevent the further lowering of all of our IQs with this stupid and

obviously forced "point".

In our current system, sometimes campaign contributions ARE bribes. And sometimes they are only potential bribes. The legal system is there to help figure that out. Siegelman was not guilty of being bribed, but he is being treated like he was.

People who would remove both bribery and potential bribery from the system have no beef with Siegelman, who has been victimized horrendously by a rigged legal proceeding and the GOP.


(edited for comma clarity)

[druidity33]

55. This is about Don Siegelman, not Hillary Clinton...

He's in jail, she isn't. The OP made no mention of her. The biggest differences are of course... he was opposed by Rove, an R judge and his advocates, and the Executive branch was against him (still is, otherwise he'd be free). If those conditions were true for her, do you think Hillary would be in jail?

[yallerdawg]

59. I'm explaining why his appeals have gone nowhere.

When the "left" jumped on the campaign-contributions-are-bribery bandwagon, they gave credibility to the accusations, and in this case conviction.

This is what you call chickens come home to roost.

[druidity33]

61. Well then, how could HRC still be "in the game"?

If the situations are so equate-able, why is she not in prison? This is a case of local power hungry bigwigs who knew they could put somebody down. The fact that bigger people with more power haven't resolved this inequity is up for speculation. There are no chickens... there is no roost. Anyone who has really looked into this knows Gov. Siegelman is guilty of nothing that warrants prison time, much less solitary confinement. And Scrushy? Going to jail for giving money to an ostensibly community benefiting venture? In return for being on an Arts board? Are you aware of his wife dying? He couldn't visit with her... in jail. The whole godamned thing makes me sick and angry. And these abusers of power are still in power! You shouldn't be using Gov. Siegelman's predicament to do anything other than secure his release. This was long before Hillary's "campaign contributions" came into this election season. I'll say it again... This has nothing to do with Hillary Clinton! Dammit!

[yallerdawg]

66. Christ - you don't know shit about Scrushy.

And his wife Leslie is just fine.

An Arts board? Do you make this up as you go along?

Be that as it may, you are completely missing the point. You all see no hypocrisy in ranting and raving for Siegelman's innocence while condemning Hillary with unfounded speculation and innuendo.

That's my point.

[druidity33]

68. "while condemning Hillary with unfounded speculation and innuendo. "

How many times do i have to say, "This has nothing to do with Hillary Clinton"? I haven't kept up on the saga of Siegelman recently, I'll admit. Forgive me for misinterpreting what the "Certificates of Need Review Board" meant. Though since he had served on that board for at least 6 years prior, i'm not sure how much his removal from it would have affected his influence over the players involved. I'm still looking for the link where he was denied visitation, i thought for his dying/ailing wife, though my memory has been known to have been faulty... i remember it being at legal schnauzer. Obviously you've been paying closer attention over the years to these cases. Do you think Gov. Siegelman should be in jail or that Scrushy should have done time?

[AxionExcel]

4. Pardon the Governor now.

He is a victim of a Republican sleazebag political attack. This has gone on way too long.

[Fritz Walter]

5. Perhaps the current occupant of the Governor's mansion could take his place

Although Mr. Siegelman -- a Democrat -- will never get his six years back, a full pardon will help restore his dignity and reputation.

And then, we can take a crack at the Repukes who put him behind bars, including "Turd Blossom" and other Bush regime criminals.

It's called Karma.

[yourpaljoey]

6. This says a lot about Obama - and it ain't good

[Botany]

7. Karl Rove and his helpers (US Attorneys & a dirty judge) put Gov. Siegelman in prison ...

.... because he cried foul after a stolen election in 2002.

[The Blue Flower]

8. I'm sure I'm not the only DUer who has written to the WH about Siegelman

I do it every time I see another story about this miscarriage of justice. Last time was when President Obama was in Cuba. I likened Gov. Siegelman to the Cuban political prisoners. I'm glad these AGs have united to speak up.

[laserhaas]

14. They spoke up - in the very beginning - when Karl Rove and U.S. Attorney Canary started this CHIT

One of the greatest miscarriages of justice - ever.

[HillareeeHillaraah]

9. God, I hope this happens.

What happened to Don Siegelman is a travesty of justice.

[tularetom]

10. WTF is the matter with Obama?

There is no excuse for his failure to act on this injustice.

[IDemo]

13. His excuse, though he won't publicly admit it

Is that he fears it will threaten Democratic chances in the GE with accusations of political favoritism. I don't see him acting on this.

[tularetom]

15. And yet he had no such concerns about jumping right in the middle of the FBI investigation

into Hillary Clinton's private server. Something that will directly affect Democratic chance in the GE.

Its getting to the point where I no longer believe a word that comes out of the man's mouth.

[navarth]

23. sadly agree.

I still have a glimmer of hope that PBO will pardon Gov. Seigelman.

[IDemo]

28. His comments on the server were him offering his opinion

Taking the step to grant a pardon means he took direct action.

[still_one]

16. I don't buy that. Alabama is not going to alter the results of the GE. I have no idea why the

President won't pardon Siegelman, because it won't have any impact on the GE.

Here is the list of pardon's the President has done so far:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_pardoned_by_Barack_Obama

I am still holding out hope that it will occur before his term is over.

[AtheistCrusader]

20. Pointless to worry about that.

Republicans rail on and on about how Obama is usurping power by executive action, even though his EO's are lower than Bush/Clinton, and few of significant impact.

They just make shit up, so no point trying to hedge the perception.

[Freddie Stubbs]

50. Perhaps he does not believe that it is an injustice

[L. Coyote]

65. He follows the letter of the law like a great attorney.

That system works when there's no opposition party of criminals appointing their buddies to the DoJ.

I'm all for a benevolent dictator, but only if I'm the dictator.

[laserhaas]

12. We've been fighting for this - ForEVER - WOO HOO

Governor Siegelman is one of the largest abuses by Political prosecution (Karl Rove head of) - outside Senator Stevens.

Unfortunately, moi has been blocked from Facebook, so I can't talk to my fellow Governor Siegelman warriors.

Dana Jill Simpson and others must be jumping for joy.

This would stick it to Karl Rove - like you wouldn't believe...

[99th_Monkey]

18. Excellent!! FREE Don Siegelman!!!

A too-long overlooked candidate for an Obama Presidential pardon.

[PufPuf23]

19. I support an Obama POTUS pardon for Don Siegelman.

Governor Siegelman never should have been convicted and deserved far more support from the Democratic Party establishment.

[dorkzilla]

21. It's a travesty that this man is where he is right now

He needs a full pardon and he needs it NOW.

Shame on President Obama for not doing it sooner.

[nolabels]

22. On the other hand, his unfortunate sentence and having served it

Will make good precedent for any other REAL crooks who have or are participating in such illegal contempt for our representative government. Disloyalty and corruption of the peoples business should be a very frowned upon activity

[Equinox Moon]

24. Obama... This is your task

Mr. President Obama, all the drug offense pardons were great. Now, you need to pardon this man and many other people on a very long list.

[lsewpershad]

26. Can't understand

What is President Obama waiting for.

[cstanleytech]

35. What makes you think he is waiting at all? I mean for the most part the past few presidents have

generally not issued pardons for people still serving their sentence in prison rather for some odd reason they have issued them to people who have already served their time.

[malthaussen]

31. "Attorneys general"

As in the body of the release. One of those pesky plurals like "Courts martial."

I'm sure Mr Obama will keep his own counsel about this. There is obviously some expedient reason to uphold the conviction. Given the number of blatant miscarriages of justice which have occurred and continue to occur in this country, I'm not clear to me why Mr Siegelman's case is such a cause celebre compared to, say, that of Leonard Peltier.

-- Mal

[geardaddy]

37. That was my first thought.

It's a shame that ABC can't get headline writers with a knowledge of English.

In any case, I'm glad to see the attorneys general looking into it, though I agree that Leonard Peltier should be higher on the list.

[IDemo]

41. Yes, and I did consider changing it even though LBN rules frown on that

But I consider USA Today's ongoing abuse of "5 Things You Need to Know" a worse offense.

[Thor_MN]

70. You could have tossed in a "[sic]" after "Generals".

to show that the preceding text was quoted exactly as it appeared in the original, i.e. to show that it was their mistake, not yours.

To be able to do that in a headline from a major network is a sad state of affairs. Past editors are rolling in their graves.

[IDemo]

78. Done, thanks

[felix_numinous]

33. K&R!

I hit the K&R 2x on this one

[PotatoChip]

36. For me, it's quite chilling to see the politically motivated railroading

of this man's entire life's career along with the criminal prosecution of him. The republican political machine pretty much destroyed Siegelman's life and sent him to freakin prison! How did they get away with that? The whole thing was quite obvious. A really big wtf?!? ...in my opinion. He goes to prison even though some very prominent people are on record trying to help him.

Yet again another example of shameful, corrupt things going on in our politics in this country. And very few people in either party want to do anything about it, apparently. What have we become, and why are so few people asking this?

I hope Siegelman gets his pardon, and goes on to reclaim his life. For him, justice is very, very long overdue.

[barbtries]

38. total perversion of justice,

in which the people who put him behind bars belong there themselves. i cannot even imagine the frustration he and his family suffers.

https://www.gofundme.com/DonSiegelmanFilm

[Duval]

40. It is way past time!

Do it NOW!!!

[silvershadow]

48. Siegelman got the shaft, and continues to do so. Meanwhile, KKKarl Rove and Cheney remain free.

Travesty of justice if there ever was one.

[martigras]

53. Like his Facebook page to stay updated

The prison admin that threw him into solitary for talking to Thom Hartmann now is threatening to do it again if he completes an interview with CBS. Since when does a prisoner lose his right to speak to the press? This is an outrage!

[Peregrine Took]

60. About time. How come Obama never

Tried to help him??

[DebbieCDC]

67. It's a disgrace Obama hasn't done anything to help this man

One of the many failings of this president

Alert away, I don't care. I expected a lot from Obama and have been routinely disappointed.

[saturnsring]

71. what about one those petitions where, if given set number of signers is reached, the w.h.promised to

respond

[Freddie Stubbs]

86. The link for the petition is no longer working

https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/pardon-don-siegelman/4qjtPLKs?utm_source=wh.gov&utm_medium=shorturl&utm_campaign=shorturl

[midnight]

72. kick

[Judi Lynn]

73. Please, President Obama. It IS the right thing to do. n/t

[randr]

75. Siegelman is just one of the reasons our President has failed us

It is this legacy of neglect for justice that pushes me into the Bernie camp.

[forest444]

80. America's most prominent political prisoner.

This is what foreign dictators bring up every time Kerry mentions human rights to them.

[yurbud]

87. NOT pardoning Don siegelman is an act of moral cowardice and corruption