Partisanship Accusation Expanded in Alabama: Riley, Jr., boasted GOP judge would "hang Siegelman"

[DeepModem Mom]

Source: New York Times

By PHILIP SHENON
Published: October 11, 2007

WASHINGTON, Oct. 10 — The son of Alabama’s current Republican governor boasted that a Republican judge would “hang Don Siegelman,” a former Democratic governor of Alabama, for partisan reasons, according to a deposition by a Republican lawyer from Alabama.

The lawyer, Jill Simpson, testified in a case about accusations of White House interference in the Justice Department’s corruption case against Mr. Siegelman, who is serving an 88-month sentence. A transcript of the deposition was released Wednesday by the House Judiciary Committee.

The governor’s son, Rob Riley Jr., denied Ms. Simpson’s accusation. In a telephone interview, Mr. Riley said that she “has more outlandish accusations” and that “none of them are true.”

Ms. Simpson first said she was told in 2005 by a key Republican strategist in Alabama that Karl Rove, President Bush’s former top political aide, had pushed the Justice Department to bring corruption charges against Mr. Siegelman. In the new deposition, Ms. Simpson repeated the earlier charges and made the assertion about Mr. Riley, son of Gov. Bob Riley. In her deposition she said she had worked in several Republican campaigns in Alabama....

Democratic members of the House Judiciary Committee, which has scheduled a hearing next week on the prosecution of Mr. Siegelman, have questioned whether he had been a victim of selective prosecution and whether the Justice Department had ignored similar evidence against Alabama Republicans....

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/11/washington/11alabama.html

[Cha]

1. Is Siegelman in jail?

If so, Free Don Siegelman!

Friggin vindictive fascistassholes.

[DeepModem Mom]

2. He is. nt

[Cha]

3. I thought so but I couldn't

find anything when I google his name..I shoulda wrote Don Siegelman/jail :( Poor thing..imagine how he feels..a freakin' political prisoner in the US. Gawd, I hope he gets Justice SOON.

[Frances]

4. Actually he's in prison

[Cha]

5. Right...sorry..

Big difference!

[EFerrari]

11. Go to the Democracynow. org site. Amy has reported on this

extensively.

The way this man was treated is shameful.

[Bitwit1234]

6. The same partisan judge that sentenced him to twice what anyone

else would have gotten, won't allow him out on bail. He also wouldn't allow him bail like most of the other people get, to put his affairs in order. Look at how long Scooter had before he was sentenced. This judge is one of bush's appointments.

[Tarheel_Dem]

7. DU'er, LCoyote has been all over this one....

Sadly, Thom Hartmann & Sam Seder are the only on-air personlities I've heard make mention of this case. This, in my opinion, should be the top news story on every news outlet in the country. Thanks DMM & LC for keeping us so informed. This man sits rotting in a prison cell, while Repukes who were similarly accused, got a pass. It's disgraceful. Other discussions:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=1982675

[DeepModem Mom]

9. Thanks, Tarheel_Dem! nt

[Tarheel_Dem]

12. you're quite welcome, and thanks again for keeping this story alive....

[Froward69]

8. someone in our office is a friend of

GOV.Don Siegelman. He says Singleman is the one of the most honest persons he has ever met.

Rove helped to go after him. As the republicans are Rabid in that state. he lamented that Democrats have become hunted individuals there. "Kind of like when I was a kid, when the color of your skin made you a suspect. then again that sentiment still prevails. Democrats are seen as the enablers" Its a shame. It is yet annother reason I became rabid DEM myself.

[DeepModem Mom]

10. Thanks for posting this info, Froward69. nt

[Cha]

17. Can you even believe this is

happening?! I mean Has Happened, Is Happening, and Will Happen unless we do something about it!

[AZ Criminal JD]

13. Congress should demand an investigation

[Tarheel_Dem]

19. John Conyers is on it, there will be hearings next week.....n/t

[Justitia]

14. Not the 1st time Rove had political enemies imprisoned, he did it to 2 others here in TX

In the 90s he had Mike Moeller and Pete McRae completely abused & imprisoned by a "friendly FBI agent", who also coincidentally coordinated his bogus "bugged office" political dirty trick back in the 80s. His accomodating FBI buddy (henchman) was Greg Rampton.

Rove destroyed those two good public servants and had them thrown in jail in the most egregious prosecutorial misconduct situation this state has ever seen.

Rove collects political prisoners - literally.
He is repulsive scum.

[DeepModem Mom]

15. Thanks for that reminder, Justitia. nt

[seafan]

16. '..... a Republican judge would “hang Don Siegelman,” ' according to Karl's plan.

Partisanship Accusation Expanded in Alabama

By PHILIP SHENON
October 11, 2007

WASHINGTON, Oct. 10 — The son of Alabama’s current Republican governor boasted that a Republican judge would “hang Don Siegelman,” a former Democratic governor of Alabama, for partisan reasons, according to a deposition by a Republican lawyer from Alabama.

The lawyer, Jill Simpson, testified in a case about accusations of White House interference in the Justice Department’s corruption case against Mr. Siegelman, who is serving an 88-month sentence. A transcript of the deposition was released Wednesday by the House Judiciary Committee.

.....

Ms. Simpson first said she was told in 2005 by a key Republican strategist in Alabama that Karl Rove, President Bush’s former top political aide, had pushed the Justice Department to bring corruption charges against Mr. Siegelman.

.....

The White House has denied the accusations on behalf of Mr. Rove, and Justice Department officials have rejected claims of political interference in the investigation. “Karl has made clear that he had no involvement in that issue at all,” a White House spokesman, Tony Fratto, said.

The trial judge in the Siegelman case, Mark E. Fuller, who was appointed by Mr. Bush, had no comment on the accusations.

Yeah, Karl, just like you had nothing to do with outing a covert intelligence officer named Plame.



The charges against Siegelman, in a nutshell:


Questions About a Governor’s Fall

NY Times
June 30, 2007

It is extremely disturbing that Don Siegelman, the former governor of Alabama, was hauled off to jail this week. There is reason to believe his prosecution may have been a political hit, intended to take out the state’s most prominent Democrat, a serious charge that has not been adequately investigated. The appeals court that hears his case should demand answers, as should Congress.

.....

The charges Mr. Siegelman was convicted of suggest that he may have been a victim of selective prosecution. He was found to have named a prominent Alabama businessman to a state board in exchange for a contribution to a campaign fund for a state lottery, something Mr. Siegelman supported to raise money for his state’s woefully inadequate public schools. He was not found to have taken any money for himself and many elected officials name people who have given directly to their own campaigns to important positions. The jury dismissed 25 of the original 32 counts against Mr. Siegelman.

The most arresting evidence that Mr. Siegelman may have been railroaded is a sworn statement by a Republican lawyer, Dana Jill Simpson. Ms. Simpson said she was on a conference call in which Bill Canary, the husband of the United States attorney whose office handled the case, insisted that “his girls” would “take care of” Mr. Siegelman. According to Ms. Simpson, he identified his “girls” as his wife, Leura Canary, and another top Alabama prosecutor. Mr. Canary, who has longstanding ties to Karl Rove, also said, according to Ms. Simpson, that he had worked it out with “Karl.”

The idea of federal prosecutors putting someone in jail for partisan gain is shocking. But the United States attorneys scandal has made clear that the Bush Justice Department acts in shocking ways.

.....

More info:



Chairman Conyers Releases Jill Simpson Transcript on the Prosecution of former Alabama Governor Siegelman, October 10, 2007


GOP Lawyer Deposed on Alabama Case (Siegelman). September 15, 2007

[Tarheel_Dem]

18. kick....

:kick: