From Don: Siegelman's new travel restrictions

[trof]

From: Don Siegelman
Sent: Wednesday, April 30, 2008 4:13 PM
To: XXXXXXXX
Subject: I have attached the 11th Circuit's order

In this afternoon's Associated Press story, a representative of the federal
probation office in Montgomery, Alabama stated in effect that my travel
conditions had not changed form what they were before sentencing.

Here's what happened. On April 29 I was informed by my parole officer that
he had received instructions from his superior in Montgomery that I was to
be considered a "Special Offender" for travel purposes. I am now required
to have permission to travel to any place out side of the Northern and
Middle Districts of Alabama. Also, that additional information will be
required of me before I travel. For example, I will now have to fill out and
file a formal written detailed request to travel with my PO two weeks in
advance of travel even if I want to travel to see my lawyers who live in
Mobile, Alabama. That request, then has to be forwarded to the federal
district into which I seek to travel. Some districts, require an additional
30 day notice before they will even consider my request to come there.

This is contrary to what I had previously been required to do, and,seems to
be in contradiction of the 11th Circuit's order for release on bond pending
appeal. (See attached order of the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals.)

Probation restrictions from conviction to incarceration were that I could
travel anywhere within the state of Alabama without requesting permission
and traveling outside the state did not require that I I request travel any
specific number of days in advance.

Examples:
Mobile trips to see attorneys, and numerous trips outside of the
districts but within Alabama, were permitted without any oral or written
requests.

* A family vacation to the Virgin Island trip,

* Washington DC trip and

* A trip to California were all handled by an oral or email request to
my PO who then emailed the Judge and he responded to the PO.

There is a vast difference in the conditions for travel, as of yesterday,
and the conditions that I was under before sentencing and for over one month
after I was released on March 28th by the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals.

1) I am now classified as a"Special Offender", placed in the category of a"
Potential Terrorist" or member of "The Mafia" requiring additional scrutiny
by the district into which I seek to travel.
The definition of "Special Offender " that I was given reads as follows:
"Individuals identified or associated with ... organized crime such as the
Mafia,...persons identified as potential terrorists,kidnappers,members of a
supremacy group... offenders of high notoriety, or cases similar nature."
The only reason my case is of "high notoriety" is because of misconduct of
the government which the U.S. Congress and the Inspector General of the DOJ
are now investigating. It not my behavior that gave this case notoriety it
was that of the government.

2)I have been given a new form that I have not been required to fill out
previously , that I must now fill out and give to my PO at least two weeks
in advance for any trip, including requirements of criminal registration and
reporting in the district into which I seek to travel. I must also have
.
3)I must seek written permission weeks in advance even to travel into the
Southern District of Alabama if I want to see my lawyers.

4)If I am seeking out of state travel, in addition to the two weeks notice I
must give my PO, some districts require an additional 30 days notice,
however, there is no way for me to know what the rules are in any particular
district before I make my request to my PO.

[Larkspur]

1. Hope Dan Abrams sees this and makes a big deal out of it.

[L. Coyote]

10. You mean Dan "Let's keep it simple" Abrams. When he starts talking about the

illegal campaign contributions, Abramoff and Riley, Scanlan and Riley, Abramoff and Rove, the stolen election allegations,
then I'll let him off the hook for not letting Gov. Siegelman name names bu shutting him down with that infamous, "Let's keep it simple."

See the video:
LINKS: Some Reflections on "Rove in State of Panic." Are things what they seem?
Apr-20-08 - http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3183926

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. This is EXACTLY how political prisoners are treated

welcome to the new order

[Junkdrawer]

3. So if they don't want him to testify before Congress, just have "The Bureaucracy"

lose his request for travel...

Of course that's unlikely...as unlikely as both receivers of a TV station going out during his 60 Minutes report...

[sasquatch]

4. I think that's what they're trying to do

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. the subpoena from congress is a special case

but most likely they will try to ahem forget that little factoid

They truly cannot stop him from traveling to DC for that testimony.

In my view they don't want him on any kind of national teeevee or other nasty press

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

6. If Congress subpoenas him,

won't that trump this mumbo-jumbo?

[lifesbeautifulmagic]

7. ok, so....

"Here's what happened. On April 29 I was informed by my parole officer that
he had received instructions from his superior in Montgomery"

Who is the superior, and what are his reasons for this.....

Gov Siegelman is a public figure in a very high profile case with national interest, so I think, we, meaning the public, have a right to know.


This is almost taking biblical proportions - I mean just how much can they put this man through?

Too bad he didn't sell his country down the river by exposing a covert agent working on tracking WMD, instead of the unforgivable crime of wanting to give the kids of Alabama some incentive to stay in school and graduate.

[trof]

14. I understand Judge Mark Fuller is still in charge

of what happens to Siegelman while he's out on bail.
The same judge who had him shackled in the courtroom immediately following sentencing. The same judge who would not grant him bail or even a few days 'grace' prior to his incarceration.

[barbtries]

8. gawd i feel for this man

i think my frustration would have driven me insane or into the grave if i had to go through what the republicans in alabama have put and continue to put him through. their absolute cruelty just astounds me. when is someone going to stop this madness and jail the people who have really been breaking the law?

[L. Coyote]

9. Somebody send this man a jacket from the Holocaust Museum with "Jew" on it.

That would make the point, I should hope--a good Catholic having to wear a Jewish Label to call attention to Bush Junta Fascism!!

[Pastiche423]

11. To anyone's knowledge

has anyone else had such travel restrictions put on them when out on bail?

I believe the cons thought mild mannered Governor Don would go to prison w/o a whimper. Now that they realize they were wrong, they're pulling out all of the stops to silence him.

:grr:

[struggle4progress]

12. Siegelman classified "special offender" (WVUA-TV)

Eric Hopes
April 30, 2008

Former governor Don Siegelman has been barred from traveling without getting prior approval. Siegelman told the associated press that he was informed by his probation officer Tuesday afternoon he was being classified as a special offender for travel purposes. The classification means he must get approval from the judge overseeing his case and from the district where he seeks to travel ...

http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20080430/WVUA01/283795731/-1/Category=TL20

[struggle4progress]

13. Feds dispute Siegelman's claims of new travel restrictions

By BEN EVANS
Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON
Last Updated:April 30. 2008 1:38PM
Published: April 30. 2008 1:38PM

... Siegelman, a Democrat, said the decision to classify him as a special offender makes a "huge difference," noting that some districts require 30 days' notice to travel. He argued that the decision is aimed at preventing him from speaking out about his case, which he insists was politically motivated.

Citing a list of special offenses provided by the Louisiana district, he said the classification is aimed mostly at dangerous criminals such as organized crime leaders, potential terrorists and sex offenders.

"I'm not a flight risk and I'm not a member of the mafia and I'm not a potential terrorist. They say I'm high notoriety ... but my case is of high notoriety because of inappropriate government action that has received the attention of the national media and Congress," he said, referring to reports about his prosecution on programs such as CBS' "60 Minutes" and an ongoing investigation by the House Judiciary Committee ...

http://www.timesdaily.com/article/20080430/APN/804301018