Siegelman Lawyer Asks for Leniency in New Sentence
Source: Associated Press
Siegelman lawyer asks for leniency in new sentence
BOB JOHNSON, Associated Press
Updated 04:30 p.m., Wednesday, August 1, 2012
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) An attorney for former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman has asked a federal judge not to send Siegelman back to prison on Friday, though Siegelman has written supporters to say he may be returning there for a lengthy stay.
U.S. District Judge Mark Fuller originally sentenced Siegelman to more than seven years in prison for his 2006 conviction for bribery and other charges in a government corruption case.
Fuller is resentencing Siegelman because a federal appeals court dropped two of the charges.
Siegelman and former HealthSouth CEO Richard Scrushy were convicted of what prosecutors said was a scheme for Siegelman to appoint Scrushy to an important hospital regulatory board in exchange for Scrushy arranging $500,000 in contributions to Siegelman's campaign for a statewide lottery for education.
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Siegelman-lawyer-asks-for-leniency-in-new-sentence-3755128.php
sasha031
(6,700 posts)are they trying to kill him...
JDPriestly
(57,936 posts)And George W. Bush plus how many bankers and mortgaged fraudsters continue to enjoy their lives without having to face a jury. No justice at all.
"I have lost my livelihood, most of my assets and my freedom," Siegelman says in the email. "I am now a 'felon' and have lost my right to vote and run for public office," said the former governor, who'd also served as secretary of state, attorney general and lieutenant governor.
http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Siegelman-lawyer-asks-for-leniency-in-new-sentence-3755128.phpews/article/Siegelman-lawyer-asks-for-leniency-in-new-sentence-3755128.php
Gregorian
(23,867 posts)I still don't know why Kagan was taking the side of the prosecution.
The Wizard
(12,552 posts)to the Rove agenda. Karl Rove is the most dangerous man in American and belongs on a scaffold for treason.
Festivito
(13,452 posts)This story shows us bald faced corruption that undermines our America.
midnight
(26,624 posts)Festivito
(13,452 posts)The history is so maddening.
suffragette
(12,232 posts)trof
(54,256 posts)I received this a couple of days ago and posted it in GD.
Many supportive responses.
Dear trof,
This may be my last chance to email you for some time. I am going back before U.S. District Court Judge Mark Fuller to be re-sentenced this Friday, August the 3rd at 9:00 AM (CST) at the federal courthouse in Montgomery.
Your friendship and support throughout this incredibly long, painful, and costly ordeal has meant so much to my family and me.
This battle for justice within the court system comes to a close. The U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear my last appeal even though 113 former state Attorneys General and many of the nation's top Constitutional Law Professors joined in my appeal saying that the law is so unclear that any contributor and candidate is "at risk of being indicted and convicted..."
I served nine awful months in federal prison, thirty days in total isolation in solitary confinement, three weeks in a maximum-security prison side-by-side with hardened criminals. Every step of this fight for justice over the past nine years has been devastating to my family and me.
I have lost my livelihood, most of my assets, and my freedom.
I am now a felon and have lost my right to vote and run for public office. I can no longer practice law. Regardless, I remain committed to our system of justice; flawed though it may be, it is still one of the best. It is up to us to make it better.
Thank you for your encouragement, which keeps my spirit strong. Please continue to keep in touch with my family as this journey for justice continues.
May God bless you and your family.
Sincerely,
Don
SpankMe
(2,970 posts)It's low risk. Favoring gay marriage was mush more risky. The facts and history on Siegelman are clear and the public would be sympathetic if the story was told correctly.
Something is dreadfully wrong with the Siegelman issue. There's something we don't know.
DCKit
(18,541 posts)Then, I want to see a full investigation. They went too far.
midnight
(26,624 posts)But investigating this would be tantamount to opening the real books at the Federal Reserve.... I just don't see it happening...
blackspade
(10,056 posts)It's been 7 years since he was convicted.
Why is he not walking with time served?
Answer: If he is out of prison, he is free to talk about his case and reveal the deep corruption of out judicial system.
I would not be surprised if when he does get out, he is put under a gag order.
On edit:
I don't get this: He said the hearing will be limited to determining "a reasonable sentence" for Siegelmen, as well as the former governor's ability to pay for his incarceration and to "addressing any arguments not previously raised during Siegelman's first sentencing hearing."
Since when are we requiring that convicts pay for their incarceration?
midnight
(26,624 posts)Freddie Stubbs
(29,853 posts)There has been no gag order prohibiting him talking and revealing the any corruption of out judicial system.
patrice
(47,992 posts)samsingh
(17,602 posts)Kingofalldems
(38,496 posts)hoping Siegelman goes back to jail.