Prosecutors end Siegelman, Scrushy sentence appeal (for longer sentences)

[UpInArms]

Source: Associated Press

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Federal prosecutors are no longer seeking stiffer prison sentences for former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman and former HealthSouth CEO Richard Scrushy, but have not said why.

Prosecutors filed a motion this week with the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals asking that their appeals of the sentences be dropped. Their appeals had called for a longer prison term than Siegelman's more than seven-year sentence and Scrushy's almost seven-year sentence .

The latest filing does not spell out why prosecutors want to drop their appeals. It just says "the government has elected not to proceed with its cross-appeal as to either defendant."

Prosecutors originally asked that Siegelman be sentenced to 30 years in federal prison and Scrushy to 25 years.

<snip>

At the time of the sentencing, prosecutors filed a motion asking for stiffer prison terms. In the written motion, prosecutors said that "Siegelman's conduct was part of a pervasive corruption of a government function, process, or office that may cause loss of public confidence in government."

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080604/ap_on_bi_ge/siegelman_trial_sentence

[jimshoes]

1. The worm, as they say

has turned.

[LakeSamish706]

2. Congress really needs to get seriously tough with Rove and get to the ...

bottom of this. I hope that they use inherent contempt to get the sick F*** to testify.

[harmonicon]

4. congress won't do shit

If they were going to, they've had a year and a half to fool us otherwise. Now, I fear, our best hope is a strong justice department under president Obama.

[LaStrega]

3. pffffft.

"... pervasive corruption of a government function, process, or office that may cause loss of public confidence in government ..."

sounds like shrub to me.

[Hissyspit]

5. .

[Supersedeas]

6. apparently there are limits to Mukasey style Justice

[Judi Lynn]

7. Scrushy files for reversal

Scrushy files for reversal
Posted by Kim Chandler -- The Birmingham News June 04, 2008 7:40 AM

MONTGOMERY -- HealthSouth founder Richard Scrushy asked the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals to throw out his conviction in a government corruption case, arguing there was insufficient evidence to convict him and jurors improperly communicated by e-mail.

Scrushy's lawyers filed the 116-page brief with the appellate court late Monday.

"We are optimistic that the 11th Circuit will give us an acquittal, or in the least, a new trial after they hear our appeal," Scrushy lawyer Bruce Rogow said in a prepared statement. "There are many problems and issues in the trial before the district court, any of which should lead the 11th Circuit to reverse Mr. Scrushy's conviction."

Scrushy's attorneys argued that the trial judge failed to investigate evidence of juror misconduct, e-mails the attorneys obtained that appeared to be between jurors discussing the case.

The lawyers wrote that the e-mails among the four jurors, if authentic, show that at least four conducted deliberations outside the presence of other jurors, creating a more than trivial concern for the defense.

More:
http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2008/06/scrushy_files_for_reversal.html