Former Alabama governor and ex-HealthSouth chief indicted

[quaoar]

http://www.al.com/newsflash/topstories/index.ssf?/base/news-17/1130366045251751.xml&storylist=

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — A federal grand jury indicted former Gov. Don Siegelman and three others on charges in a "widespread racketeering conspiracy" that included bribery and extortion, federal prosecutors announced Wednesday.

The prosecutors said Siegelman and former chief of staff Paul Hamrick violated racketeering laws during his term from 1999 to 2003. The indictment, in part, alleges then-HealthSouth chief Richard Scrushy made disguised payments totaling $500,000 to Siegelman to get appointed to a key state hospital regulatory board.

[Sanity Claws]

1. Does Siegelman have an "R" after his name?

That's my guess.

[quaoar]

2. Nope, he's a Democrat

In fact, he is running again against Lucy Baxley for the Democratic nomination. The incumbent, Bob Riley, beat Siegelman by a razor-thin margin three years ago.

This is the second time Siegelma has been indicted. He was acquitted the first time. It's also Scrushy's second indictment. He, too, beat the rap.

[rodeodance]

3. "political witch hunt by Republican prosecutors"

Former state Transportation Director Gary Mack Roberts also was charged with mail and wire fraud for his alleged role influencing agency actions on behalf of Siegelman.

The announcement was made simultaneously in Montgomery and Washington. Siegelman has called the long-running grand jury probe a political witch hunt by Republican prosecutors trying to derail his current Democratic campaign for a second term. He planned a statement later Wednesday.

The prosecutors noted that three others with ties to the Siegelman administration have pleaded guilty to public corruption charges in the alleged scheme — Nick Bailey, a former executive secretary and Cabinet head; Lanny Young, a former lobbyist and landfill developer; and Curtis Kirsch, a Montgomery architect who did work for the state during the Siegelman administration.

The indictment returned Wednesday alleges that Siegelman and Hamrick took hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes from Young to aid young's business interests, including awarding contracts to companies controlled by Young.

[quaoar]

5. The U.S. attorney's office

has taken a lot of heat for losing both those cases, especially Scrushy's. They got plea bargains from about a dozen top executives at HealthSouth, but somehow managed to let to big fish slip through. It would be like convicting everyone at Enron except Ken Lay.

So I don't know if it's a witch hunt as much as an attempt to save face.

[papau]

4. The ALa GOP prosecutors lost last year to Siegelman (D) and will lose now

Former Alabama Governor Don Siegelman (D) said he expects to be indicted by a federal grand jury, but “it won't stop him from running for governor next year,” the Decatur Daily reports. Siegleman also predicted that “another indictment could help him with Alabama voters.”

Last year, Siegelman "was acquitted when a judge ruled the prosecution lacked evidence to back up a key charge in the indictment."

[cdsilv]

6. Hate to say it, but these dems are crooks....

Scrushy bought his way out of conviction by giving lots of money to black churches (his jury was predominately black).

I know alot of folks who sold HealthSouth computers and they indicated there was alot of 'under the table' stuff done to get the sales. People in Birmingham have alot of stories about HS.

Face it. We have crooks and liars in the DEM party as well as the GOP.

We really need a third party that is NOT bellied up to the corporate trough.

Corporations pay little if any taxes, don't vote, so they should not be able to make political contributions.

If the corp I work for wants to contribute to a political campaign, let them give me a bonus and ask me to contribute - leave the decision up to me. I can keep or donate it.

[Jersey Ginny]

7. Yup, dems have crooks, but we admit it

We don't put party over law and country.

[No Exit]

8. This is a pre-emptive strike b/c Siegelman could beat Riley (R)

or loony Moore (R) in a governor's race.

[No Exit]

9. As for Richard Scrushy, he just got acquitted in federal court,

after what was surely a politically-motivated prosecution.

Repukes are shameless and lawless in the state of Alabama.

[sam the dawg]

10. Scrushy should hang

This scrushy s*b should hang from the highest tree.
Total personal bias. Relative died in health south. negligence.
neighbors kin to health south exective. Enough for me to thumbs down this criminal.

[WhiteTara]

11. You are right Sam...he should hang

from the highest tree in the neighborhood and left for the buzzards as a sign for the rest of those kinds of crooks who want to profit off the misery of others.

BTW Welcome to DU :hi: