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Several requests in recent weeks have led up to a possible congressional investigation into whether former Alabama Gov.. Don E. Siegelman was prosecuted for political purposes.
Siegelman, a Democrat, along with former HealthSouth CEO Richard Scrushy, was convicted in 2006 of bribery, conspiracy and mail fraud charges. In 1999, Scrushy gave Siegelman’s state education lottery effort $500,000 in exchange for an appointed seat to a hospital regulatory board.
On June 28, Siegelman was given a prison sentence of seven years and four months, and Scrushy was sentenced to six years and 10 months. Since their incarceration at the federal prison in Atlanta, Siegelman was transferred to another federal prison located in Texarkana, Texas, and then was moved Tuesday to his permanent holding facility in Oakdale, La. Scrushy is scheduled to be moved to a minimum-security prison in Beaumont, Texas.
Although many thought the former governor’s conviction and sentencing would bring a conclusion to this case which has been stretched out for years, recent allegations have brought more media attention to the causes and handling of Siegelman’s case.
On May 21 of this year, Rainsville lawyer Dana Jill Simpson filed an affidavit claiming that Siegelman had been targeted as a political hit by state Republicans, as well as Karl Rove and the Department of Justice.
According to Simpson, a Republican conference call took place on Nov.. 18, 2002, among Simpson, Gov. Bob Riley’s son Rob Riley, Republican campaign consultant for Gov. Riley William “Bill” Canary and former Alabama Supreme Court Justice and Gov. Riley’s lawyer Terry Butts. The call was made concerning the results of the 2002 gubernatorial election, which was the closest in Alabama history.
During the election race, Riley found himself behind Siegelman by several thousand votes. Then literally overnight, the Baldwin County results shifted from a Siegelman win to a Riley win by 3,195 votes. On Nov.. 8, 2002, Siegelman demanded a recount by hand, but later on Nov. 18, 2002, Siegelman conceded the contest.
In one of the most crucial parts of the affidavit, Simpson states that Canary told Rob Riley “not to worry about Don Siegelman that ‘his girls would take care of him’ and at this time the election contest needed to be put behind them.”
Simpson said that Canary identified ‘his girls’ as Alice Martin, appointed U.S. Attorney for the Middle and Northern District’s of Alabama by President George W. Bush on Sept. 29, 2001 and Leura Canary, his wife and appointed U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama by President Bush on Aug.. 2, 2001.
Next, Simpson said, “Rob Riley then asked if (Canary) was sure these ‘girls’ could take care of Don Siegelman and William ‘Bill’ Canary told him not to worry that he had already gotten it worked out with Karl and Karl had spoken with the Department of Justice and the Department of Justice was already pursuing Don Siegelman.”
Simpson said in a press release on July 10 that she assumed Canary was referring the Karl Rove, because she understood Canary had worked with Rove while they both lived in Washington D.C. and that both men had worked together on numerous Alabama campaigns.
“Her only goal is to get the truth out,” Simpson’s attorney Pricilla Duncan said. “Some people tried to get her to do several unethical and illegal acts, and she refused. She was never paid for her opposition research and wanted to come out after people got heavy-handed about it.”
Simpson’s allegations have caught the national media’s attention and have prompted several Alabama Democrats to press for congressional investigations.
Chairman for the Alabama Democratic Party Joe Turnham has urged Rep. Artur Davis and Rep. Bud Cramer, both Democrats, to take action.
“We believe the action by President Bush, combined with the scandals at the Attorney General’s office, suggest a true double standard within the Bush justice system,” Jesse McDaniel, communications director for the Alabama Democratic Party, said.
McDaniel referred to the controversial action taken by President Bush to commute Dick Cheney’s former Chief of Staff Scooter Libby’s 30-month prison sentence for perjury and obstruction of justice.
“It is not unprecedented unusual for an ongoing case to be investigated by Congress, but whether or not Siegelman’s case will be included is out of the party’s hands,” McDaniel said.
Rep. Davis sent a letter to Rep. John Conyers Jr.., chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, on July 6 asking the committee to include Siegelman’s prosecution in its investigations of “selective prosecution” by the Department of Justice.
“(Rep. Davis) did submit a letter last Friday, and it was received by Chairman Conyers; now the committee is deciding on how to conduct its investigation,” Corey Ealons, deputy chief of staff and communications director for Rep. Davis, said.
Most recently, on Monday, July 16, 44 former state attorneys general asked Congress to further investigate the Department of Justice’s role in the Siegelman prosecution. They believe it may be in connection with the highly publicized firing of eight U.S. attorneys for political reasons of inadequacies.
While no date has been set for an investigation to begin, it is likely to be done some time in the coming fall. Duncan said that Simpson will be willing to testify and has been told she will be called on.
