Siegelman jailing a political conspiracy?

Woah, this may be one of the reasons that Rove resigned. It could very well be that some of the emails that the Bush Gang is hiding will implicate Rove in a political conspiracy to "get" Siegelman back in 2002. Talk about political corruption! Manipulating the US Attorneys to frame up and actually put the Governor in jail? Talk about your abuse of power! Would anyone be surprised at how deep the corruption of the Bush Gang goes?


Inquiry will prove GOP conspiracy, Siegelman says
By Bob JohnsonThe Associated Press

Former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman says in a letter from federal prison that he is confident his conviction will be overturned and a congressional probe will show that Republican politics was behind the investigation of his Democratic administration.

Siegelman, in a handwritten letter to The Associated Press received Monday, said he believes former presidential aide Karl Rove was behind the federal investigation.

"I am also encouraged by The Congressional inquiry and upcoming investigation which should prove the political involvement and establish this Alabama case as the 'Watergate of 2008,'" Siegelman wrote.

Responding to questions in a letter sent by AP to Siegelman at the federal prison in Oakdale, La., the veteran political figure said, "You asked how I'm doing? I'm fine! My spirits have been uplifted because of my friends' prayers, letters and action. I am blessed and I give thanks to God many times each day."

Federal prosecutors have denied that Rove or anyone in the Bush administration had any influence over the Justice Department's prosecution of the Democratic governor. Prosecutor Steve Feaga said Monday he's confident the convictions of Siegelman and former HealthSouth CEO Richard Scrushy will be upheld on appeal.

Feaga called Siegelman's letter "typical jailhouse correspondence."

Siegelman and Scrushy were convicted last year of bribery and other government corruption charges. In the key charge, Siegelman was accused of appointing Scrushy to an influential hospital regulatory board in exchange for Scrushy arranging $500,000 in contributions to Siegelman's campaign for a state lottery.

Attorneys for both Siegelman and Scrushy have filed notice of appeal to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and are seeking their release while the appeal is pending.

In his letter, Siegelman expresses confidence he will be vindicated.

"Based on established law recognized in previous cases by The U.S. Supreme Court and the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, I believe this 'Alabama Case' will be vacated or reversed with little delay," Siegelman wrote.

Near the end of the five-page letter, written in easy-to-read script on white stationery, Siegelman indicates he wants to be a political player again in Alabama.

"I have learned a great deal about our prosecutorial, judicial and penal system and will be seeking changes, when the time comes, to help balance the scales of justice once again," he wrote.

Siegelman, 61, was sentenced June 28 to more than seven years in prison and Scrushy, 54, to almost seven years. Both were immediately taken into custody. Scrushy is serving his sentence at the federal prison in Beaumont, Texas.

In the motion seeking Siegelman's release, his attorneys argued that his conviction should be overturned because prosecutors did not prove that there was a "quid pro quo" agreement between Siegelman and Scrushy, which the motion said is required in bribery cases.

"If the 11th Circuit will follow the law and exercise common sense, there's no question the governor will be released immediately and this case will be over," defense attorney David McDonald said Monday.

Feaga, one of the career prosecutors who handled the case, said Siegelman "was prosecuted and convicted because he committed multiple acts of corruption while he was governor."

"We are confident that any review of this process will reach the same conclusion that has been reached by everyone that has reviewed it to date," he said.

Siegelman was acquitted on 25 of the 32 charges against him. He was convicted on six charges related to the Scrushy contribution and one charge of obstruction of justice involving money for a motorcycle.

The House Judiciary Committee's chairman has asked the Justice Department for documents involving its prosecution of Siegelman.

http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070821/NEWS/708210327/1001