Governor Don Siegelman Moved to Texas
Former Alabama Governor Don Siegelman was moved from a federal prison in Atlanta, Georgia late Tuesday night to Texarkana, Texas, sources say.
The Bureau of Prisons says while they try to designate prisoners to within 500 miles of their home and keep them in their home region, but apparently that doesn’t apply to Siegelman. He was moved out of the official Southeast prison region.
The best way to get information on Siegelman is the Website Bop.Gov by using Siegelman's inmate number: 24775-001.
A concise timeline of the Siegelman case compiled by Siegelman supporters:
- 8 year investigation begun in 1999 by Rove Client - Attorney General Bill Pryor.
- Investigation is picked up by Feds in 2000 and subsequently directed by US attorney who is the wife of top-level GOP operative and associate of Karl Rove.
- Siegelman asks for US Attorney’s recusal in 2002 (No recusal documents ever produced)
- Indicted in 04 by Northern District US Attorney. Charges thrown out with prejudice.
- Indicted in 05 on 37 counts.
- Brought to trial on 35 of those counts one month before Democratic primary in 2006.
- Convicted on 7 counts in 2006.
- Bribery conviction without benefit to either party proven. No direct or personal benefit to Siegelman whatsoever.
- Evidence of Juror Misconduct not investigated by USA or Trial Judge – Bush appointee Mark Fuller.
- Fuller denies recusal motion based on his financial interests in National military contracting firm that provides services to the FBI.
- TIME Magazine article on June 1 detailing affidavit from GOP lawyer linking white house interest and US attorney’s husband to Siegelman investigation.
- Investigative reporter Glynn Wilson tells the full story of Bush Justice Department manipulation of justice in Alabama and the Jill Simpson affidavit story on the record in the Locust Fork Journal.
- Karl Rove associate Toby Roth attacks affidavit in June article in The Birmingham News.
- Sentenced to 7.3 years on June 29. One half of sentencing guideline steps used by trial judge based on acquitted charges and Siegelman’s public comments about the political implications of his case – deemed “failure to accept responsibility.”
- Taken from courtroom, shackled and driven to Atlanta Federal Penitentiary in dead of night.
- New York Times Editorial on June 30 calling for congressional inquiry into Siegelman Case.
- Alabama Congressman Artur Davis sends letter on July 6 to Judiciary Committee Chairman seeking investigation into Siegelman case.
- Siegelman is moved to Texarkana, Texas sometime during the night of July 10.
Comments
Why would they move Don to Texas? The DOJ says Okl. City, Okla.
If he has been moved to Texas, could it be that the Pres. wants him where he has more control? Something to think about!
Would also make it harder on the attorneys,friends and family! Scrushy is in Atlanta,why would they not keep them together, since they claim they committed a crime together?
This is the most ridiculos case in history!
Posted by: Sarah Smith | July 12, 2007 01:50 PM
The conviction of Siegelman and Scrushy is a joke, "A guy walks in, gives a contribution, and gets an appointment? Until Congress reforms this, this is the system we live under. They are criminalizing this contribution. What was the alleged crime? Richard Scrushy, wealthy owner of HealthSouth was appointed to a hospital board. A quid pro quo for a donation to the campaign for a state education lottery is the supposed bribe.
The bribery charge on which he was convicted did not involve pocketing money personally, but a rich business executive who put $500,000 into a campaign fund for a state lottery to support education. Prosecutors said Siegelman, named the executive to a state board, though the executive had held the same position under three previous governors. Remember that this happen in 1999 years before the HealthSouth scandal.
Why is this utterly ridiculous? Well besides the damning fact that 3 governors had already appointed him to the board, a wealthy hospital owner like Scrushy would always be appointed to a hospital board in any state for bringing jobs and money into the state. He didn't have to give anyone a dime to get that position. That alone was sufficient to earn him the respect of any governor. There was absolutely no need for any quid pro quo to get onto the board.
Repeatedly the prosecutors claimed that Siegelman "lined his pockets" and claimed that he was the "nexus of a pay to play" system. The problem with this is that no evidence of personal benefit to Siegelman was ever offered.
The prosecutors attempted to draft a RICO racketeering case against Gov. Siegelman. It is the worst drafted RICO that I’ve ever seen. Even Professor G. Robert Blakey, a former prosecutor and now a law professor who advised Congress in enacting the RICO called the entire case against Siegelman a "garbage can" and "a joke."
Fed. Judge Fuller ruled that his decision was influenced by a determination that both Siegelman and Scrushy had failed to take responsibility for their crimes. The fact that no crime ever took place is the reason for not taking responsibility for it.
Why were Rove, the Department of Justice, and Bob Riley so concerned about Scrushy's donation to the Siegelman’s Alabama education lottery campaign? They believe that the state lottery in Alabama would have an impact on the Republican laundered cash flow from the Indian casinos.
McCain is the senate chairman over Indian Affairs who “has not” been protecting the Indians. Lobbyists have for years used scare tactics on the Indians making them think that if they didn’t pay for their services and make donations to designated groups that they would lose their gambling licenses. Many of Bob Riley’s past affiliates (Trent Lott, John Lundy, Toby Roth, Dan Gans, Dax Swatek, and Twinkle Andress) are now working as Lobbyist for directly for the Mississippi Indians. Recently convicted lobbyist Michael Scanlon also started his career working for Riley.
This case is the distorted idea of Karl Rove to use federal prosecutors to win elections, destroy prominent Democrats and damage the Democrats' donor base in Alabama.
An elite group has evolved that is holding top state and federal offices. They are using the name of the GOP to control government elections, courts and receive and direct monies much of which are associated with government contracts. Karl Rove has been a major organizer in this movement; however, I don’t feel that he is the head of it. I do feel that it’s root go back to President Nixon.
It's a disgrace to us Americans that President Bush allows Karl Rove (a political analyst) to use the resources and powers of the Attorney General. Nearly everyone agrees that the appointment of Gonzales was a ploy to get the Latinos votes and a front for Rove.
Posted by: Rev. Bob Richardson | July 14, 2007 06:13 PM
It is a shame for democracy.
I wish plenty of courage to Don Siegelman!
Christine Hariga
Belgium
Posted by: HARIGA | July 23, 2007 12:09 AM