http://www.huffingtonpost.com/larisa-alexandrovna/an-open-letter-to-powerli_b_89341.htmlThe Huffington Post March 1, 2008
Larisa Alexandrovna
An Open Letter to Powerline (And Others): For the Love of Karl Rove?Dear Powerline (and others by association):
In your open letter to CBS News about their 60 Minutes broadcast on the Don Siegelman case, you begin by readily admitting that you are a late-comer to the story. Yet despite not having the facts or apparently seen the investigative reports done well before the CBS broadcast aired, you feel capable enough to issue an opinion and demand your questions be answered. Why not actually read the wealth of information already provided to see, if by chance, your questions have already been answered? Or better still, simply read the wealth of information already in the public sphere to see if you even know what you are opining about? (some links at bottom of this post)
Why go on an attack against 60 Minutes (see my latest post on smear jobs regarding this story) when you yourself have implied that you have no clue what you are talking about?
Your open letter, sadly, can be seen only in one of two ways: 1). you are either unable or uninterested in obtaining facts before you go into political Rambo mode; 2). or you are simply firmly lodged inside Karl Rove's colon. Which is it?
You seem to be well respected among your readers and lawyers of various political affiliations. So I am willing to give you the benefit that you are indeed simply misinformed. I will, however, allow readers to decide for themselves which genre you fall into by addressing your "open letter" with my own. You see, you are not the first to jump on this band-wagon and sadly, likely not to be the last. You do, however, seem to be the most reasonable and open to new information, which is something I am more than happy to provide.
Let me say for the record that my interest in this case is only in seeing justice done. I do not know or claim to know if Mr. Siegelman is guilty or innocent of anything. What I do believe strongly is that he did not get a fair trial and more disturbingly is that the evidence points rather strongly to politics, rather than justice.
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"The 60 Minutes story quotes two sources at length, Jill Dana Simpson and former Arizona Attorney General Grant Woods. Jim Hoft has covered the issues concerning Simpson's contribution to the story here and here."
This is not accurate. Grant Woods is one of 52 former state attorney generals - of both parties - who signed a letter to Congress demanding this be investigated. Woods was giving his opinion in the CBS broadcast, not acting as a source. There are two sources cited by name in the CBS broadcast, one is Nick Bailey, a prosecution witness who alleges that he was coached on his testimony and appears to have lied about what he witnessed with regard to Siegelman. (See the above 60 Minutes portion regarding the check that Bailey testified had changed hands). CBS also alleges that the prosecution was aware of this.
In addition, the whistleblower, Dana Jill Simpson, testified under oath to Congress, which adds to her credibility over that of Mr. Rove's, who is in contempt of Congress for not even showing up.
You then go on to cite a reporter who is seen by most people with whom I have spoken in Alabama (Republicans and Democrats alike) as a shill:
"Reading about the underlying controversy, I found the name of Eddie Curran. Curran is the Mobile Press-Register reporter whose stories played a role in initiating the investigation of Siegelman. Curran is on leave from the Press-Register writing a book on Siegelman's "administration, the trial, and the aftermath, including the 60 Minutes show on Siegelman." Curran has now written a letter to 60 Minutes."
There is a small problem with regard to Curran. You see, he built his entire reputation on an investigation into Siegelman (ironically, the prosecution did not use much of his evidence) and is alleged by many people in Alabama to have worked closely with the prosecution (a journalistic no-no).
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But ultimately, all of this can be boiled down very simply. As I have said now over and over, if Mr. Rove had no involvement, as he claims, in the political prosecution of Don Siegelman, then why does he not appear before Congress and testify under oath? Why would he risk defying a subpoena and risk contempt instead of simply telling his side of the story?
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So I ask that instead of attacking CBS, you consider the questions I want answered and perhaps, because you are an American first - before your politics - you will also ask these questions and demand answers too:
1. Was Mr. Canary (a consultant for Bob Riley, Don Siegelman's opponent during the 2002 election) involved in a conversation on November 18, 2002 in which he said that "his girls" (allegedly in reference to his wife, US Attorney Leura Canary and their friend, US Attorney Alice Martin) would "take care of" Mr. Siegelman? Who else was on that call? Is it appropriate for a US Attorney to be investigating the opponent of her husband's client? Is that not a conflict of interest?
2. Mrs. Canary claims to have recused herself from the Siegelman case. Where is the evidence of this from the DOJ?
3. Did Mr. Canary and Mr. Rove discuss how to "take care" of Mr. Siegelman at any point while Mr. Rove was working at the White House?
3. Did Mr. Rove meet with operatives for Bob Riley (Siegelman's opponent during the 2002 election) and discuss how to "take care" of Mr. Siegelman? Did Mr. Rove have these alleged meetings on street corners in DC, cafes, and at lobbying firms on K street throughout 2002 and later?
4. Did Mr. Rove ask William Pryor to seal the 2002 ballots before Siegelman's requested hand-recount could happen? Mr. Pryor's campaign for Alabama state Attorney General was run by Karl Rove in 1998. In 2002, Pryor sealed the ballots of the Riley-Siegelman campaign after a late-night glitch suddenly made Riley the winner. The following April, Pryor was installed on a recess appointment to the 11 Circuit Court of Appeals.
5. Why did Pryor seal those ballots?
6. Did Mr. Rove suggest that Mr. Pryor be appointed to the 11th Circuit? What were Mr. Pryor's qualifications and why was he installed on a recess appointment? Was he being rewarded for sealing the ballots.
7. Did Mr. Rove have any relationship with Mark Fuller, the judge who was appointed by President Bush and later, somehow, got the Siegelman case?
8. Did Mr. Canary ever say that Judge Fuller "would hang Siegelman," before Fuller had gotten the case? How about after?
9. Where is the court transcript of the trial, which is needed for Siegelman to file his appeal? It has been 30 months, already. How long does a court transcript take?
10. Why did Judge Fuller not let Siegelman report after he was indicted, instead having him shackled and brought in like a violent offender? The charges, after all, were bribery.
11. Why is Siegelman not allowed to be out of prison while he appeals his case? What is the reason for this?
MORE OF LIST AT LINK
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I leave that choice to you and the judgment of that choice to the public, a jury of your peers - Americans.
MUCH MORE
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