Judges on Siegelman panel were all GOP appointees

[babsbunny]

http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Judges_on_Siegelman_panel_were_all_0306.html

Muriel Kane
Published: Friday March 6, 2009


The rejection of former Alabama Governor Don Siegelman's appeal to have his bribery conviction overturned has come to no surprise to some observers, who noted last fall that all three judges chosen for the panel were Republican appointees.

[Loki]

1. There is nothing, and I mean nothing

with the term or the association of Republican or Republican Party that has an ounce of credibility character, integrity or legitimacy attached to it.

[L. Coyote]

2. Appeals Court Rules On Scrushy, Siegelman

Saturday, March 7, 2009; Page A14
Appeals Court Rules On Scrushy, Siegelman
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/06/AR2009030603365.html


MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- A federal appeals court upheld most of the bribery and corruption charges Friday against former Alabama governor Don Siegelman and all the charges against former HealthSouth chief executive Richard M. Scrushy.

A three-judge panel of the Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit in Atlanta struck down two of the seven charges on which Siegelman was convicted, and it ordered a new sentencing hearing. That means Siegelman's seven-year sentence could be reduced.

But the court upheld key bribery, conspiracy and obstruction counts against him ............

[barbtries]

3. can he take it further?

this is so wrong!

[L. Coyote]

4. Siegelman: "The Fight Will Continue"

Siegelman: "The Fight Will Continue"
By Zachary Roth - March 6, 2009 - http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/03/siegelman_the_fight_will_continue.php


Don Siegelman has responded to the appeals court ruling earlier today that upheld most of the charges of which he was convicted.

In a blast email message to supporters, Siegelman wrote:

I am disappointed, but not discouraged. The fight will continue.

He added:

My family and I are deeply appreciative of the outpouring of support and prayers. Your words and actions keep our spirits lifted and our resolve strong. We will get through this, and we will win.

[barbtries]

6. thank you

sigh. not enough to clear his name. people need to pay for what was done to this man.

[L. Coyote]

5. WA POST: Rove Set to Testify About Alabama Governor

Rove Set to Testify About Alabama Governor
POSTED: 04:36 PM ET, 03/ 5/2009 by Derek Kravitz
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/washingtonpostinvestigations/2009/03/rove_set_to_testify_about_alab.html

It looks like Karl Rove, the influential former aide to President George W. Bush, will finally face questions about his role, if any, in the bribery conviction of a former Alabama governor.

As part of the agreement (PDF) between Rove, former White House counsel Harriet E. Miers and the House Judiciary Committee, Rove and Miers will face limited questioning about the controversial firing of nine U.S. attorneys in 2006.

That deal also cleared the way for Rove to be questioned regarding Don Siegelman, Alabama's Democratic governor from 1999 to 2003, who was found guilty of seven counts of bribery and related charges in 2006. He was convicted of giving Richard M. Scrushy, the founder and ex-CEO of HealthSouth, a seat on the state hospital regulatory board in exchange for $500,000 in donations to the state lottery fund.

Siegelman, 63, was sentenced to more than seven years in federal prison and ordered to pay a $50,000 fine. He served nine months but was released a year ago after an appellate judge cited "substantial questions" in his case.

Siegelman's much-publicized conviction has been at the center of conspiracy theories, with his supporters arguing that his prosecution was orchestrated by GOP leaders, including Rove. Siegelman's case has been cited by Democratic leaders of the House Judiciary Committee as evidence of political tampering by Bush administration officials at the Justice Department.

..............