'Don Siegelman reacts with disgust and sarcasm

[elleng]

to news that SCOTUS had overturned convictions or former VA Gov. Robert McDonnell, who were showered with $175,000 worth of gifts from a constituent.

Don Siegelman, with no Rolex and no Ferrari, remains in prison while SCOTUS overturns Robert McDonnell's convictions, based on receipt of $175,000 in gifts.

Don Siegelman yesterday reacted with disgust and sarcasm to news that the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) had overturned the convictions of former Virginia Gov. Robert McDonnell and his wife, who had received more than $175,000 in gifts (including a Ferrari ride and Rolex watches) from a constituent. Meanwhile, we have discovered a legal issue that might make it unlikely Siegelman and codefendant Richard Scrushy will receive any benefit from the McDonnell ruling. . .

Dana Siegelman Kinkade, the former governor's daughter, released the following statement yesterday:

Dad's response to McDonnell Case Ruling:

"I would have been better off if the HealthSouth CEO had given me a Rolex and a Ferrari NOT to appoint him to the non-paying C.O.N. board on which I wanted him to serve and to which he begged me not to appoint him."

In the government's case against former Alabama's Governor Don E. Siegelman and HealthSouth CEO Richard Scrushy, there was no quid pro quo much less an express one. There was no personal benefit or self-enrichment scheme. Richard Scrushy, the CEO of Fortune 500 HealthSouth, spent five years in prison because the judge told the jury could infer or imply a corrupt agreement because a campaign contribution to a ballot initiative referendum could be considered something of value to to the Governor because he advocated the referendum's approval by the voters.

"I feel sure Mr. Scrushy would have gladly paid me not to reappoint him to his 4th four year term to a time-consuming board." The McDonald ruling does nothing to answer George F. Will's call:

"Until the court clarifies what constitutes quid pro quo political corruption, Americans engage in politics at their peril because prosecutors have dangerous discretion to criminalize politics." Wash Post, 2/12/12

Don E. Siegelman

Governor of Alabama, 1999-2003

I outlined yesterday three pathways to freedom that the McDonnell ruling might provide for Siegelman. And I still think that might be possible. But our followup research revealed a legal issue that could mean McDonnell doesn't mean much for Siegelman.

America's federal bribery laws are a confusing mishmash, covered under several different statutes, written in language that is largely unintelligible. In fact, the statutes are so confusing that courts often turn to case law to determine what is, and is not, illegal.'>>>

http://legalschnauzer.blogspot.com/2016/06/don-siegelman-with-no-rolex-and-no.html

[Delphinus]

1. My thoughts turned to him

Monday when I was hearing this on the radio.

I sure hope he gets justice soon.

[elleng]

2. I'm not betting on it, Delphinus.

[passiveporcupine]

42. At this point (how long has he been in jail)

Maybe the longer he's in the harder it is to admit they made a mistake and he has been jailed unjustly.

Cognitive dissonance.

[midnight]

3. kick

[raven mad]

4. As a one-time Alabama resident, whose daughter and granddaughter still live there -

SEIGELMAN WAS SET UP AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN FREED YEARS AGO.

Sorry for the yell, but he's a good man, and was when I lived there.

[elleng]

6. I'm glad you yelled.

We ALL should, and this means PRESIDENT OBAMA SHOULD HAVE PARDONED AND/OR RELEASED HIM YEARS AGO!

[raven mad]

19. Amen, elleng - I worked for Channel 13 there, and got to meet him.

And Richard Arrington, and Bear Bryant...............

I thought, even then, he was one of the most promising politicians in Alabama politics.

[senseandsensibility]

5. I do find this very hard to understand

and I want to thank you for posting.

[elleng]

8. You're welcome.

This is my #1 complaint about President Obama. (#2 is Secretary of Education.)

[Night Watchman]

7. Anti-Semitism is Alive and Well in Alabama

[elleng]

10. That's surely true, I suspect,

and I thought, for that reason, Governor Siegelman would have had problems long ago, even tho he doesn't present as Jewish.

'Siegelman was born and raised in Mobile, Alabama, the son of Catherine Andrea (née Schottgen) and Leslie Bouchet Siegelman, Sr.[5] Siegelman is married to Lori Allen, and they have two children, Dana and Joseph. Siegelman is Catholic,[6] and his wife Lori is Jewish; they raised their children in the Jewish faith. He has studied martial arts for decades and holds a black belt in World Oyama karate'
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Siegelman

[raven mad]

21. I think it's as much that his ideas require some ability to think as the anti-Semitism.

My daughter isn't; she grew up in Alabaster. So much depends on who raises you and who TEACHES you - decent schools, parents who are willing to go the extra to help, etc.

I said one bad word once. I was raised in Central Florida until age 13, and I said the "n" word. Once. I think it was in 1962; I'd have been 8. My mom whupped my butt, and made me sit in the corner.

It's HOW you're raised, as much as where.

[mentalsolstice]

27. Last time I saw Don....

He was a practicing Catholic. I saw him at Christmas midnight mass at St. Paul's cathedral in Birmingham, where he was considered a member (oddly, at the same time this was also where Bill Pryor was also a member). This was at the time he was still the Governor. He maintained his residence in Birmingham, although Montgomery is the capitol. He's a very nice man, as is his wife Lori who is Jewish. I never got anti-semitic vibes around his governorship, just anti-Democratic ones.

[elleng]

31. Yes, he is a practicing Catholic, as I posted elsewhere.

'Siegelman was born and raised in Mobile, Alabama, the son of Catherine Andrea (née Schottgen) and Leslie Bouchet Siegelman, Sr. Siegelman is married to Lori Allen, and they have two children, Dana and Joseph. Siegelman is Catholic, and his wife Lori is Jewish; they raised their children in the Jewish faith. He has studied martial arts for decades and holds a black belt in World Oyama karate'
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Siegelman

[mentalsolstice]

44. Thanks ellen, I was responding Night Watchman.

It was often odd to see Siegelman and Bill Pryor at the same Mass, as they couldn't be more different in ideology.

[The Wizard]

9. Why no Presidential pardon? (NT)

[elleng]

11. Some damn sick politics, imo.

[raven mad]

22. "Democrats" in Alabama are a little to the right of Richard Nixon.

And that was true then, and still is.

The schools there do not teach how to think and learn, just rote.

[elleng]

23. and Siegelman became governor anyway.

rover couldn't live with it.

[raven mad]

24. Yep - and I hope someone throws his frogass in jail. Someday.

Or ship him up here, I'll take him up to Coldfoot Camp and let him try to hitch back. In midwinter. Without a coat. That man is the most poisonous snake I've ever encountered in politics, and let's see - I first voted the year I turned 18. 1972.

[mentalsolstice]

28. Nice broadbrush of Democrats in Alabama.

I'll remember that next time I have discourse with you here at DU.

[nolabels]

30. In a lot of the larger states with big democratic majorities a lot of them flip.......

in governing style to being what once called moderate republican. Every vacuum eventually gets stuffed with something

[Chasstev365]

12. President Obama Must Do It In Jan of 2017 Before Leaving Office

[The Wizard]

15. He should have done it when he took office.

Seigleman was set up by arch villain Karl Rove for the sin of being a successful Democrat in Klan country.

[elleng]

16. Yes, at least for that,

and YES, President Obama should have done it when he took office.

[avaistheone1]

29. This is a grave injustice to Siegelman, I hope Obama will finally act to make things right.

[former9thward]

37. Alabama is not "Klan country".

The KKK is a fly speck in current AL politics despite your insults and imaginations. Siegelman was set up by zealous prosecutors who wanted to have a trophy head. The same who went after Blagojevich (D) and Ryan (R) in IL -- neither of which, like Siegelman, received any money for their supposed crimes. The federal statute is vague and the prosecutors could make almost any action a politician takes into a crime. I am happy the SC is curbing this abuse.

[jalan48]

13. Good question.

[red dog 1]

45. Good question!

Why no Presidential pardon?....(Maybe this has something to do with it)

"Why Did Obama Administration Ask Judge To Increase Gov.Siegelman's Prison Sentence?"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023955756

[Festivito]

14. IOKIYAR, and nothing is okay if you are a Democrat.

Unnecessary wars, torture, outing spies, voter role cuts, skipping meetings about terrorism against Americans, advocating to not count our votes, and on and on and on.

What does it cost to buy an American's integrity? With a Republican, it's just a negotiation of how and how much.

[elleng]

17. THIS is NOT OK.

[Festivito]

25. I agree.

Frustrating.

I have every Republican I can reach for a moment to research this one story. Of course they don't. Not one of them is a genuine patriot, such that they would actually care enough about their country or me.

"60 Minutes" goes blank in a state for twenty minutes. That lone notion compels people to pay attention.

Not even a president can touch this story. I do not understand why.

[Rex]

18. Seems too much of the justice system is run by GOPukers. A very clear agenda.

Glad he said something about it, too much of that.

[rusty quoin]

20. One was clearly corruption and the other was not.

I hope that Obama pardons Siegelman before he leaves office, though I don't think he will.

[malthaussen]

26. Funny, that was exactly my reaction.

"Free Siegelman" is not one of my most beloved issues, but there would seem to be an inconsistency in keeping him locked up while the McDonnells walk.

-- Mal

[Shebear]

32. Why hasn't Obama pardoned this man?

This is a travesty of justice, and why Siegelman is still in prison is a national embarrassment.

[DonCoquixote]

35. because the monute he pardons him or Leonard Peltier

it comes a red meat election issue to the GOP who never met a liberal they did not want to lock up.

[Shebear]

36. Obama isn't running for anything...

... he should never have tried to appease Repub sentiment anyway, it lead him nowhere but bad legislation.

He should do the right thing.

[LaydeeBug]

33. when is he eligible for parole anyway? nt

[former9thward]

38. Early 2017.

If Obama waits to pardon him or commute his sentence it will not mean much.

[freebrew]

34. Why hasn't PBO pardoned him yet???NT!

[LarryNM]

39. Prosecutors at all levels have Too Much Power eom

[Snarkoleptic]

40. This injustice is too important to fall down the memory hole.

Here's the "Free Don" website with ALL of the gory details.
http://www.free-don.org/

Here's the 60-Minutes piece-
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/did-ex-alabama-governor-get-a-raw-deal/

[elleng]

41. Thanks, Snark.

Yes it is.

[Aerows]

43. it really is n/t

[red dog 1]

46. Kick!

"Atticus v. The Architect'..The Political Assassination of Don Siegelman"
http://www.documentary.org/film/atticus-v-architect

How to help + more:
https://free-don.us/