44 Former State AGs Call For Review Of Siegelman Case

[babylonsister]

http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/003691.php

44 Former State AGs Call For Review Of Siegelman Case
By Laura McGann - July 16, 2007, 12:49 PM

The movement for a review of Gov. Don Siegelman's (D-AL) case is picking up steam. Forty-four former state attorneys general are now calling on the House and Senate Judiciary Committees for an investigation into whether his corruption prosecution was politically motivated.

In a petition (available here) the former top state lawyers asked for a full review of the proceedings, noting a half dozen reasons the case raises suspicion.

In an unusual sentencing phase, the prosecution pressed for a 30-year prison term and the judge denied bail as the former governor awaits his appeal. (Siegelman was ultimately sentenced to seven years in prison.)

The attorneys also point to an affidavit filed by Republican lawyer Dana Jill Simpson as possible evidence of political interference. In her sworn statement, Simpson recounts a 2002 teleconference with some of her fellow Bob Riley (R-AL) campaign workers, where they discussed using the justice system to get Siegelman to back down from contesting the election results. Republican operative Bill Canary mentioned talking with Karl Rove about getting the Justice Department to investigate Siegelman, according to Simpson.

The document was not entered as evidence during Siegelman's trial, but his lawyers said they are considering using it as grounds for a new trial or in a habeas petition.

Rep. Artur Davis (D-AL) has also cited Simpson's affidavit in asking the House Judiciary Committee to look into Siegelman's case.

Simpson recently said she stands by her statement.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. I noticed this case didn't get much MSM attention

as it was happening the same time as the Libby pardon. I hope it gets the attention it deserves now.

[slowry]

6. hurrrr is a graff

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                        coverage

[aquart]

2. A Republican lawyer. 44 Republican lawyers.

And Republican judges are making statements from the bench.

Whole lotta disgust out there.

[acmavm]

3. Hell, where is that guy now? They've been moving his around so

damn much as of the other day no one really was sure where he was.

[trof]

4. Siegelman attorney questions his treatment

Siegelman attorney questions his treatment, describes long ride
7/13/2007, 7:09 p.m. ET
By BOB JOHNSON
The Associated Press

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman has been assigned to a prison in Texarkana, Texas, but was flown in shackles to Michigan and New York, with bologna sandwiches to eat, before being placed in a small cell in Oklahoma City, one of his lawyers said Friday.

Siegelman's chief attorney, Vince Kilborn, questioned his client's treatment and said the defense has been mostly unable to talk to him while preparing legal pleadings seeking his release on bond by the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

"It's impossible to represent somebody on an emergency motion like this without being able to talk to him," Kilborn said.

Kilborn said Siegelman has been assigned to a minimum-security federal prison in Texarkana, Texas, which is about a 520-mile drive from Siegelman's home in Birmingham. Kilborn said the former governor is expected to be taken there next week from Oklahoma City, where he is being held in a small cell at a federal prison transfer station on the edge of the Oklahoma City airport.

Federal prison officials could not immediately be reached Friday evening to comment on Siegelman's transfer.
http://www.al.com/newsflash/regional/index.ssf?/base/news-30/118436845263540.xml&storylist=alabamanews

[Joanne98]

5. K&R!

[trof]

7. Thanks. I've written about this here.

And there's more in the Alabama forum.
Nobody's paid much attention.

[trof]

8. And more info here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=3380369&mesg_id=3380752

[Marr]

9. At what point can we simply use the RICO Act on the GOP as a whole?

It's become clear that it functions as a criminal network.