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Siegelman's Lawyer: D.C. Justice Officials Played "Integral" Role in Prosecution
A former lawyer for Don Siegelman (D-AL) told the House Judiciary Committee today that his client's case took a "180 degree" turn in 2004, after Justice Department officials in Washington told local prosecutors to take another look at the case -- from top to bottom.
According to former US attorney for Alabama Doug Jones, in the summer of 2004 prosecutors told him the case was going nowhere. By October 2004 the case against Siegelman had been dismissed. But one month later, in a surprising turn of events, Washington officials told local prosecutors to give it another shot, Jones testified today. By early 2005 it was as if the case was starting from scratch, Jones said, calling it "completely stunning" and a "complete reversal" from what the defense had been told just months before.
Jones is certain, he said, that Washington DOJ officials played an "integral" part in the renewed investigation. Jones represented Siegelman at the time, though he did not represent him at trial.
Rep. Artur Davis pointed out that the time frame in which prosecutors were told to renew their efforts syncs with closed-door testimony from Dana Jill Simpson. Simpson told investigators that in a 2005 conversation with Rob Riley, the son of Gov. Bob Riley (R-AL), he told her that Karl Rove had been pushing for a prosecution and was scouting out the perfect judge.
Davis also entered a petition into the record, signed by 44 former state attorneys general who have asked for a review of the Siegelman case.
Josh
Zachary
If Siegelman is acquitted (that's a big "if"), I will be happy to look into charges of prosecutorial misconduct.
October 23, 2007 4:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Fortunately, Jake, you won't have any part in the investigation.
Outside of watching, trolling, and scarfing down Cheetos.
October 23, 2007 4:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Go have a look at the actual crime he was accused of, Jake. It's beyond obscure- it's sophistry. Have a look a the trial transcript and papers. The judge barred a lot of exculpatory evidence.
It isn't just the prosecutor.
Of course you want proof of the intent of the misconduct before actually admitting it's misconduct. Good cart-before-the-horse thinking.
October 23, 2007 4:48 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sorry, guys, but I'm kinda busy right now on the torture thread.
October 23, 2007 4:54 PM | Reply | Permalink
Jake is busy torturing - he means.
October 23, 2007 4:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
Gee, Jake's kinda consistent: if they commit a crime, it's okay for us to commit a crime, too.
They attack us and we get to torture anyone we suspect is a 'they'.
If we can prove 'they' deserve a traffic ticket it's okay for us to start a political show trial with an apparently hand picked judge.
October 23, 2007 5:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
Alabama's campaign finance laws have been found to be woefully inadequate and prone to abuse.
Remember that Tom DeLay used Alabama political committees to shift his illegal TRMPAC funds around the country.
Karl Rove has known about this weakness and exploited it for years.
Here's a bit of background (page 12):
http://www.alabamapolicy.org/pdf/legislative_2007.pdf
The fact that Siegelman was prosecuted on breaking Alabama Campaign Finanace Law is a joke in itself.
October 23, 2007 5:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well, the piece about this case I heard on Nat'l (re)Public(an) Radio this morning had the closing remark that if all politicians who received campaign contributions from colleagues of theirs returned the favor thereafter with appointments for them to advisory boards, we wouldn't have any "ethical" politicians by these standards at all.
October 23, 2007 5:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Alabama allows unlimited PAC to PAC transfers and corporate money.
DeLay Established PAC In Alabama, Skirted Campaign Finance Laws. In 1998 DeLay registered a state committee of his PAC, Americans for a Republican Majority (ARMPAC), in Alabama. While the committee remained mostly inactive until 2002, DeLay used the committee four years after it was established to collect large amounts of corporate contributions, and then transferred the funds to various Texas groups. On October 15, 2002 ARMPAC transferred $25,000 to Texans for A Republican Majority (TRMPAC). DeLay and two of his former employees were indicted in 2005 for their actions in connection with TRMPAC. [AP, 1/18/06; Alabama Ethics Filings]
October 23, 2007 5:26 PM | Reply | Permalink