SIEGELMAN IS OUT! Former Ala. Governor Freed From Prison

[Bumblebee]

Source: AP

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Siegelman-Release.html

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: March 28, 2008

Filed at 12:33 p.m. ET

OAKDALE, La. (AP) -- Former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman has left a federal prison in Louisiana.

He had been in federal custody for nine months after being convicted on bribery and other charges in Alabama.

A federal appeals court ruled Thursday that Siegelman should be released on bond pending the appeal of his case.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Siegelman-Release.html

---

HE IS OUT!!!

[derby378]

1. Thank God...now the REAL battle can begin

It won't be over until those responsible for Siegelman's wrongful imprisonment are thrown behind bars.

[Warpy]

7. Well, he definitely needs a new trial

preferably outside Alabama. The DOJ is still as corrupt as it has been for the past miserable 7 years, but they know people will be watching this one very, very carefully. There's nothing like notoriety to keep us more honest.

If a new trial finds him innocent, then everyone who had anything to do with the crooked first trial is likely to be ground under the slowly turning wheels of justice.

That's a huge "if," though. Remember, Democrats are always held to a far higher ethical standard than Republics are.

[Hissyspit]

27. Everyone: We need to help Roger Shuler with his house, too. He has been instrumental

in helping Larisa and Scott Horton at Harpers in keeping up with the Siegelman case.

Roger emailed me to fill me in on his legal situation:

--------:

Thanks for your concern. And thanks so much for what you've done on
Democratic Underground. I can tell from checking my Stat Counter that
you've had a big part in getting this story out.

I've e-mailed a couple of local progressive-minded attorneys, with
experience in civil rights cases, folks who were recommended to me by
a fellow blogger. So far, I've heard nothing from them.

I suspect that's because attorneys are afraid of judges in their own
areas. A corrupt judge has the power to pretty much ruin a lawyer's
business if the lawyer stands up to him.

I have some contacts in a neighboring state who I think might be able
to refer me to a civil-rights lawyer from outside the Birmingham area.
Don't want to say anything public about that until I know some more
about what might happen.

I had to represent myself in the civil case that resulted in the
"judgment" against me, so I can do some things on my own. From
conducting research, I know of a step or two I can take to at least
slow this thing down. By law, it should stop it completely, but the
law never has been much of a factor in my case. Politics has ruled the
day.

On another front, I continue to try to raise awareness in both the
mainstream and alternative press. Alabama media has been worthless.
But a reporter who covers South for NY Times has expressed some
interest, and I sent her a lot of information. Her name is Shaila
Dewan, and her e-mail address is [e-mail]. If folks want to
encourage her to look at this, that might be helfpul.

I've tried for 3-4 years to get attention of progressive publications
such as Mother Jones and American Prospect, etc. Had no luck. If
anyone has ideas on how to get their attention, I'm all ears.

Thanks for keeping up with me.

Roger

[livvy]

44. I sent Dewan an email. I hope it helps.

I don't know how he keeps going. I give him a lot of credit.

A :toast: to Roger, a true :patriot: , and apparently smart as a whip, and tough as nails.

[struggle4progress]

55. I know nothing about this except what I read in Shuler's blog but that suggests to me

he's in over his head and needs find a good lawyer ASAP

Perhaps he shouldn't count on prevailing on the mere basis of claimed procedural irregularities, as his opponents will predictably (and perhaps successfully) argue that any such are de minimis

Nor, I worry, are his claims that the original judgment was illegal likely alone to help him much: the courts will assume that it is not his place to decide such questions but theirs

It seems to me he's running out of time: he needs an immediate stay of the auction, because if it proceeds, he'll have a major headache even if he is lucky enough to prevail three or four years down the road -- and because his allowing it to proceed may be prejudicial to any future action

[ClayZ]

59. Let the Karma begin! K and R

[Botany]

2. Yes!

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[BootinUp]

3. Good. nt

[librechik]

4. Bye Bye, Rove--hope you saved your FauxNews money

you're gonna need it, you ratfucker!

[peace frog]

29. Bwa ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!!!

Rover had better haul his chubby butt down to Paraguay and take refuge in the Bush Crime Family get-out-of-jail-free-card. :rofl:

[Bumblebee]

5. Montgomery paper says the Justice Department will still fight his House

appearance:

http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080328/NEWS/803280310/1001

But the Justice Department said it was reviewing the House committee's request, especially in light of the appeals court decision.

"Because Mr. Siegelman's conviction remains pending before the appeals court, the Department of Justice will continue to litigate this matter in the courts and not the media or Congress," said spokesman Brian Roehrkasse.

[orleans]

16. fuck the justice department. they should be hauled in before the

committee and charged with shit they've been pulling.

[StClone]

35. "The Case is Solid"

What a joke...we shall see if we have enough justice left to find and defend what is just.

[Kolesar]

57. Great terse summary in the comments section of the MontgomeryAdvertiser

Fri Mar 28, 2008 1:16 pm

<<All the proof of the crime shows he is guility!!!>>

Proof? Oh, you mean the hearsay testimony of someone who admitted under oath that they weren't even present when these alleged crimes supposedly took place as they had ortiginally claimed they were (which is perjury, BTW)? And then the banking documents entered into evidence actually PROVED there was no way the hearsay testimony could have been true?

Maybe the federal appeals court DID review that "proof" and that's why Siegelman was released.
+++
I expect that we can convict & disbar some bush operatives on this. Have we found the leverage to bust Rove on this?

[mod mom]

6. EXCELLENT NEWS-Join me in showing our support by donating to his legal fight:

Here is a link to his site where donations can be made:

http://donsiegelman.org /

[Frustratedlady]

12. Done!

Not much, but I hope it helps him expose these "bastids" once and for all time.

[shireen]

17. K & R & D

i didn't donate earlier because I could not afford much. But after thinking it over, I decided to give what I could afford. Every little bit counts ... many small contributions can add up to a lot of money.

I'm glad you're home, Gov. Siegelman. I hope you're enjoying the company of your family and friends, and that they're pampering you with all your favorite meals! :)


:bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[mod mom]

Every little bit helps is absolutely correct. Thank you shireen!

:hi:

[Bumblebee]

23. I just did too. I was thinking of sending him flowers but this is much more

practical.

[H8fascistcons]

8. good...

At least he did not get whacked in prison, he still has a long way to go before the hearings. I don't know how the criminal Fascist republicans can let him testify, there is way too much for them to loose if the real story gets out....

[Judi Lynn]

10. Absolutely! He's going to need to keep himself as safe as possible immediately until further notice!

He presents a HUGE problem for them if, as you say, this story is FINALLY allowed to be heard by the public _Bush tried so hard to fool while he stabbed this good man in the back and threw him away.

So many people are involved, and they need to lose their careers over this.

[southern_belle]

9. kick

:applause:

[Kelvin Mace]

11. A posting a Kos by a friend of his claimed he was beaten

in prison. If this is true, will the Dem leadership roll over yet again and fail to investigate?

[Frustratedlady]

13. He was reportedly beaten a couple weeks ago.

I don't think it was the first time, either.

[Bumblebee]

15. any links?

[shireen]

19. Hissyspit had something about it.

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/Hissyspit/4159

[Bumblebee]

24. Thanks to you both for the links.

[Frustratedlady]

22. Here's one, but there are others. One mentioned some injuries,

but I think it was after this article. Also, one said something about federal agents doing the beatings. I don't have time to search right now, but will try later.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3015356

[Kelvin Mace]

53. That's what I heard

and the question is why and by who?

[stlsaxman]

14. WOOOO-F-N-K-N-R-HOOOOOOO!!!!!!

:bounce: :toast: :party: :kick: :hi: :headbang: :loveya: :woohoo: :applause: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot:

[shireen]

18. hey, remember this?

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[Bushknew]

20. Other than 60 minutes, I haven't seen his story been covered in the media or

have the cable talking head been following his story? I haven't had cable since the 2000 election. ; - )

[JPZenger]

34. Dan Abrams at MSNBC

Dan Abrams at MSNBC covered it. The clips are on the web. Harpers magazine has been key. Several people on Air America also covered it, including Malloy and Randi. Other than that, there's been little coverage.

[Bushknew]

47. Thanks JP, I knew Air America has been covering it ....

I wondered how much cable news coverage he has gotten, very little I see.

[gasperc]

21. wow, did 'we' the progressive movement make this happen

big things are ahead of us friends

[calimary]

26. Yep, victory can indeed beget MORE victories.

And even if not, I think we should make like we did. PERCEPTION MANAGEMENT. Destabilize the enemy and add a few servings of discouragement. Even if we didn't have much to do with it, which I seriously doubt, it might be most useful and shrewd to make other people THINK we did. If they think we have power and clout, then that becomes a de facto truism. And then some of 'em might start getting worried... scared... insecure... uncertain of their footing...

Psy-ops, my dears. Psy-ops.

[Frisbee]

25. 'bout f---ing time. n/t

[McCamy Taylor]

28. Yeah!

:applause:

[Coexist]

30. yes!

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

31. Find thee a microphone!

And a big soapbox.

[countryjake]

32. K&R for Don Siegelman! n/t

[Pastiche423]

33. I went to sleep last night hoping

the 1st article I would read today would be...

SIEGELMAN IS OUT! Former Ala. Governor Freed From Prison

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

YEA for Governor Don!

[Bumblebee]

42. Happy to oblige :-) I went to bed hoping for the same thing.

Cannot wait for his press-conference.

[kirby]

36. Please explain...

I understand that Bushco is exploiting the Justice Dept for political reasons. And while i am
happy to see our system work with respect to fair trials, etc. I don't know anything about this
guy. Everyone is cheering this guy, but isn't he a corrupt politician? I don't understand the
excitement other than a respect for the process. But there seems to be respect for this person.

[blayne]

37. He was targeted by Rove and the GOP establishment in his state.

...there is a distinct possibility that Siegelman's most serious crime was being a Democrat who continued to win high office in a bright red state that Republicans believed should be theirs alone. A troubling trail of evidence suggests that Karl Rove and other GOP operatives intervened to ensure that Siegelman -- who stood a good chance of winning a second term as governor of Alabama in 2006 -- would go to prison instead of back to the state Capitol.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ucas/20080302/cm_ucas/prosecutionofdonsiegelmanraisestroublingquestions

see also http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Siegelman

[haele]

38. There have been enough articles, a 60 minutes report, and reports from

those in the know to indicate that Siegleman is no more corrupt than the average politician. In a nutshell. A major and rather shady republican player in Alabama who made his money in the health care field gave a donation to one of Siegleman's projects to fund education. Subsequently, he was appointed to a state board dealing in health care issues, a position he had held before under other Alabama governers (and was one of the few things Scruchy had done in his career that was not skeevy).
The Alabama GOP fThe trial was pretty much a sham, the jury was spoon-fed innuendo and circumstatial "evidence" that has since become in question from the prosecution, and his right to appeal has been hamstrung left and right. There are memos in existance indicating that he was "taken care of" by the Karl Rove Machine in the DoJ.
Was he guilty and corrupt? He did not have fair trial to determine it. Personally, looking at what little actual evidence is present to the public, I don't think so.

Edited because I have a migraine and was sounding snippy.

Haele

[kirby]

56. Thanks...

I was ignorant of the facts of this case, other than the DOJ politicization. Thanks for explaining.

[blackspade]

41. He is not corrupt

The justice system in Alabama is corrupt and has been used as a political tool by the republicons to eliminate their enemies.

The fact that he has been released repudiates the judges decision to imprison him immediately in the original case.

[southlandshari]

63. Yes he is....

Siegelman was and still is a crook. I wouldn't vote for him for dogcatcher.

That said, you are right about the justice system - and even moreso the legislative system - in Alabama being corrupt overall. But you are woefully misinformed if you think that the aforementioned corruption has been a tool used only by Republicans in this state.

:eyes:


Are you from Alabama?

[Mister Ed]

67. Please elaborate?

Could you please explain why you think Siegelman is a crook? Thanks.

[The Backlash Cometh]

39. Rove, I'm coming after chew!

He's in Rosemary Beach in Florida! Go git 'im

[NM Independent]

40. Eat that Rove....hahahaha

:woohoo:

[shance]

43. The. Power. Of. Media.

and public opinion when the news gets out.

That is why they work so incredibly hard and spend billions of annual dollars to keep the truth from reaching our eyes and ears.

[defendandprotect]

52. Right-!, Right-!, Right-! . . . but it looks like to even a small extent we can influence

the corporate-press ---

We also have to remember that they have advertisers ---
we can influence them --
and the more we turn our TV's off, the less financial support the corporate news has --- !!!!

[livvy]

45. Excellent! I am so happy for him.

I do hope he watches his back. These thugs play rough.
knr

[Bumblebee]

46. I just posted an update -- his interview with the NYT as a separate thread

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3074499

[hisownpetard]

48. It's about time!! What a howling injustice has been done to this man, to date.

Let's hope he can right it by way of his testimony and that he is allowed to point fingers.

[Kolesar]

49. thanks to Scott Pelley at CBS and all the other reporters who made this happen

TGIF!

[victordrazen]

50. Thank God, this is one of the biggest outrages

of the Bush administration and that is saying a lot! It is reminiscent of S. American (installed by us) dictatorships or the Soviet Union. I do not think I am exaggerating. He is not the one who should be behind bars.

[defendandprotect]

51. I wonder what citizens in Alabama are hearing about this . . . + NY Times ....

didn't mention Karl Rove . . . !!!!

I hope that this doesn't stop 60 Minutes from going on with recapping the story?

You can see the vindictiveness of the Dept. of Justice --- even tho Gonzales is gone ---

Mukasey sucks!!!

Best wishes to Don Siegelman and his family ---
I would think it's going to take a lot to try to recover from the shock of all this and 9 months
in prison!!!

And, what about the rumored beatings?

[Bumblebee]

54. A Siegelman poll from Alabama

http://www.wsfa.com/Global/story.asp?S=8081985#poll69912

65% so far think it was the right thing that he was released.

[AlabamaBrightBlueDot]

58. I am from Alabama

and he should have never been persecuted in the manner that he was.
I hope that someone has the sense to listen to him....

[southlandshari]

64. I am from Alabama, too

And I wonder if you or anyone else here understands that Siegelman had been wrapped up in the court system for several years.

This wasn't some out-of-the-blue surprise prosecution without any precedent or evidence.

:(

[EFerrari]

65. The first case was tossed out on the first day and

the main witness against him in the second trial has been discredited.

[Judi Lynn]

69. Absolutely! He was forced to write his testimony over and over and over by the prosecutor,

because it wasn't consistant.

He has also testified against TONS of other people.

He IS discredited.

Any time spent prosecuting Siegelman over several years, as it is obvious, was absurd.

You are right, the first time they tried this against him, the thing fell apart. THAT's where the "over years" crap comes from: they have tried for years to rig a case against him.

[AlabamaBrightBlueDot]

66. I know...

But the manner in which this was handled was persecution. I am by no means saying his hands are clean.
I do believe he was treated neither fairly nor equally to others who were just as involved under the laws - and yes- the judicial persecution carried out by this state.

[lovuian]

60. woohoo

:woohoo:

[balantz]

61. K&R

Now let's have some real and meaningful action.

Let some heroes with conscience stand up to the bastards.

[southlandshari]

62. I'm glad he has the chance to see his family again

I hope he gives them a proper goodbye before going back to prison where he belongs for defrauding the people of Alabama - all of us, regardless of whether we are Democrats, Republicans or anything in between or outside of organized political affiliations.

The lifting up of Siegelman as a progressive hero is beyond misguided. Anyone who knows his history and the history of Alabama politics at the executive and legislative level during the past two decades understands this.

But hey, why let pesky details like the truth get in the way of a good knee-jerk political scandal?

:yoiks:

[Mister Ed]

68. So, could you please share a few of those pesky details? n/t

[Judi Lynn]

70. Oh, yeah! Hit us all with those details which have eluded the rest of the world.

We are all ears, and we've got time to wait!

[symbolman]

72. Prove it

I have spent years in the Alabama system fighting their corruption with six lawyers and a couple of hundred thousand bucks, my website was used to throw my ass in their county jail while making a film there about electronic vote fraud. Baldwin county in particular is the most corrupt piece of the South I've ever seen.

While I was a guest in their "graybar hotel" (which has been compared to a South African prison by Congress) my wife was interviewing Siegelman, Dan Abrams showed a clip yesterday on his show..

WE know what we are talking about, and all you appear to have is an opinion, which is a lot like an asshole, everyone has one, but some STINK..

Got any Facts per chance, or do we get to hear more "everybody knows" bullshit while 75% of the people of Alabama disagree with you?

We're all ears, unless you just want to waste time, and be ignored...

[southlandshari]

75. Asshole? Stink?

Ok. I get it.

I won't waste your time with my bullshit opinion any further. Heck, 75% of the people of Alabama disagree with me, after all.

Oh, the irony. Usually whatever 75% of the people of Alabama believe on any given issue or candidate or political figure is automatically the subject of much scorn and derision here at DU. All of a sudden, the majority view down here in Dixie - as reported to us by the political pundits and pollsters who stay as far away from the Mason-Dixon line as possible - is gospel.

And all of a sudden disagreeing with 75% of the people in Alabama - which I have always been appluaded for here at DU - is ammo for spitting on the opinion of a long-time fellow DU member from Alabama who dares to have a view that is contrary to that of the rest of you.

Like I said, I won't waste your time or my breath trying to point out the truth about Don Siegelman. I've posted dozens of times about Siegelman in the past several years at DU, unlike most here who haven't ever given a shit about Alabama or the people who live here until the opportunity to use someone like Siegelman for your own blindly partisan agenda presented itself.

Enjoy your pyrrhic ticker tape parade, all you Alabama political system experts out there.


Sincerely,

Asshole in Alabama

[symbolman]

76. you still cannot defend your position can you?

nice victim dodge. Where's the beef?

And dont quote the bullshit in the Alabama papers as any proof, anyone who's spent any time there and been Personally affected by the right wing fairy tales they print knows better.. I took my case all the way to the AL Supreme court, you know, the one that Rove helped to PACK?

My judge was installed with rabid right wing Christian Coalition money, funded by that Troll Ralph Reed and his pal Abramoff..

Let's hear some verifiable facts before you get a nosebleed on that soapbox...

[southlandshari]

77. Of course I can defend my position

but you are not worth responding to, with your Misplaced capital letters and your useless sense of self-righteous indignation.

You and I agree on far more than you realize, but you are too narrow-minded to see that.

You want facts? Here's one for you....

You say all Alabama papers print fairytale bullshit not worth using in political arguments.

A lot of good people write for Alabama newspapers.

On behalf of all of them, fuck you and the high horse you rode in on, symbolman.

[symbolman]

78. then how about a link to ONE

in that state that gives a Complete Accounting of Siegelman's Trial without an axe to grind..

And by the way, I'm not the only one still waiting for some facts from you...

Where's the Beef? Let's hear it.

[Judi Lynn]

71. You'll want to see DU'er marmar's Siegelman thread in G.D.:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=3077626&mesg_id=3077626

[L. Coyote]

73. ***** Welcome Home Gov. Don Siegelman ***** Official .....

thread is here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3078585

Give a SHOUT OUT of support! I've already sent the URL, so Don can read your comments.

[Judi Lynn]

74. Thanks! Missed it earlier. So proud Siegelman's a Democrat. What a guy!

Hope Rove will eventually cringe when people say Siegelman's name to him.