I am Matt Thomas.

Saving Siegelman

February 25, 2008

Last Night, 60 Minutes aired its repeatedly-delayed report on the federal prosecution of former Alabama governor Don Siegelman. I highly suggest watching the segment if you’re interested in Alabama politics—or if you’re interested in knowing more about the Bush administration’s platform of trickle-down corruption.

A few (unbelievable) points mentioned in the story, and a few I found after watching the segment:

• The prosecution was handled by the office of U.S. Attorney Leura Canary, whose husband Bill Canary had run the campaign of Siegelman’s opponent, Gov. Bob Riley.


• The government’s key witness, former Siegelman aide Nick Bailey, was facing 10 years in prison on extortion charges when he agreed to testify against Siegelman in exchange for a lighter sentence.


• Fifty-two state attorneys-general, of both parties, have asked Congress to investigate the case.


• It has been almost eight months since Siegelman’s trial ended, and the court has yet to produce a trial transcript—without which Siegelman is unable to appeal his conviction.


• Evidence of e-mails sent between jurors on the case was found, including one reading ”Gov and pastor (Scrushy’s nickname) up s—t creek, all public officials are scum; especially this one; pastor is really a piece of work…they missed before, but we won’t…also keep working on (another juror).”
• Karl Rove and others at the White House were subpoenaed to testify before Congress but they refused to appear. The Justice Department has refused to turn over hundreds of documents in the case.


• On October 4, 2007, Judge Mark Fuller, the judge who presided over the Siegelman trial, issued an order stating that the case had no grounds for appeal. The same day, Fuller’s aviation company was awarded an $18.1 million contract from the federal government.

And that’s not even the half of it. Read more at donsiegelman.org.