If their case against Mr. Siegelman was so “solid,” why did it take so long to produce the transcript? If he IS actually guilty of bribery, mail fraud and obstruction of justice then he should serve the sentence. But right now, I have to admit to having strong doubts that he is.

Hi

The case is one of the most amazing narratives I have encountered.

I hope that justice will be done, even if it means the Governor going back behind bars.

But in the end, what is significant here is not a putatively corrupt politician. What is significant is the array of forces and tactics deployed to neutralize him and the use of agencies of the federal and state governments to carry on an essentially partisan hit job.

And it was repeated recently with another troublesome governor with unparalleled coarseness and dispatch.

If you want to follow the full story: there are two sites that have extensive information. Scott Horton’s column at Harper’s Magazine and the AtLargely site.

“Whooooooooohoooooooooooo!”
***************

Totally agree, I was delighted to hear the “breaking news” story on VERDICT this evening. And this was the first time I heard what Mr. Siegelman was actually convicted of. The whole “case” sounds fishy to me, especially when the actual transcript wasn’t produced for 18 months.

“Whooooooooohoooooooooooo!”

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/27/us/27cnd-alabama.html?hp

Court Orders Release of Ex-Governor From Prison

By ADAM NOSSITER
Published: March 27, 2008

” MONTGOMERY, Ala. — The former governor of Alabama, Don Siegelman, was ordered Thursday to be released from prison on bond by a federal appeals court, pending his broader appeal in a bribery conviction last June… “

What is striking about the Spiegelman case is that this common practice was criminalized and in Spiegelman’s case, there was no direct benefit to the governor at least in the children’s lottery contribution instance.

The consider this: There is an Office of Government Ethics in our federal TOE. And the current Director is Robert Cusick, a Bush appointee, a fine man and well-liked by many. This office gives out advisory opinions on ethics issues: their usual memos deal with conflict of interests, divestiture, etc. They help safeguard the ethics of the Federal workforce.

Robert Cusick?

“In his spare time, Bates raises money for [Mitch] McConnell. Louisville lawyer Robert Cusick said Bates approached him and several colleagues last year and urged them to give money to McConnell’s re-election fund. Cusick gave $2,500.

Months later, Cusick said, McConnell wrote him a recommendation letter, and President Bush named him to direct the U.S. Office of Government Ethics, a post he desired. Cusick said he does not think his donation prompted the offer. The Senate confirmed Cusick this year. McConnell introduced him as “a man of wisdom, character and judgment.”

full story is linked here:

http://www.kentucky.com/233/story/11064.html

Now if the logic that was used on Spiegelman is used here: then who goes to the prison in handcuffs and leg irons: McConnell or Bush?

And why is the director of the OGE here on the recommendation of a Senator to whom he priorly made a campaign contribution?

The fun never stops.

And the check was cut AFTER Bayley testified receiving it, and thats the only evidence the prosecution had, besides the latter’s uncorroborated testimony.

This kind of corruption of the prosecutorial system makes my blood boil.

Scalia was recently discussing with counsel, the “bad old days”. He was referring to the Court finding causes for action in legislation that didn’t explicitly mention it.

But I would argue that this kind of rank partisan prosecution is the real “Bad Old Days” and the DOJ should move quickly to set things aright.

But they won’t of course.

It’s not just Alabama, either.

Alabama GOP disputes ex-campaign worker’s claims

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nation/5566317.html

WASHINGTON — A former Republican campaign volunteer in Alabama told CBS’s 60 Minutes of what she viewed as a secret five-year campaign to ruin former Democratic Gov. Don Siegelman, a claim aired Sunday that was denounced as a fabrication by the state GOP.

Party officials said Jill Simpson, a lawyer who has now left the Republican Party, was no more than a low-level volunteer for individual campaigns, if anything, and would not have had access to the kind of information she alleged on Sunday’s 60 Minutes episode.

All 52 States’ AG signed – how exciting is that?

Wooooooooohooooooooo!

I know what I’m watching Sunday at 7pm – CBS 60 Minutes and Scott Pelley.

An individual named Scott Horton has been researching this area and his researches are available at Harpers.