Siegelman: Stevens Case Is Dropped, So Why Not Mine?

[masuki bance]

Holder needs to do the right thing here-

For Don Siegelman, DOJ's decision on Ted Stevens just adds insult to injury.

"There seems to be substantial evidence of prosecutorial and other misconduct in my case, that would dwarf the allegations in the Stevens case," the former Alabama governor told TPMmuckraker in an interview moments ago.

Referring to Attorney General Eric Holder, Siegelman said that while he supports the Stevens decision, "I hope that will take a look at some of the other cases that are buried on his desk."

This morning, the Justice Department announced it was dropping the charges against Stevens, citing prosecutorial misconduct -- specifically, the government's failure to hand over key evidence to the defense. In response, Stevens declared today: "I always knew that there would be a day when the cloud that surrounded me would be removed."

Siegelman has suffered a different fate. He was convicted and jailed in 2006, in connection to his appointment of a campaign contributor to a state board. Though he is now out of jail pending his appeal, the conviction is still standing, despite evidence that the prosecution was politically motivated -- a witness has given sworn testimony that Karl Rove was involved -- and despite numerous credible allegations of misconduct on the part of prosecutors, jurors, and the judge. Some of the most compelling allegations involve withholding of evidence by prosecutors from the defense.

Siegelman is clearly alive to the parallels between the two cases, along with their starkly different results, at least as of now. "That dichotomy did not escape me," he told TPMmuckraker.

...
Siegelman said he hoped that the mass of evidence that his prosecution was tainted would "warrant consideration of doing the same thing in my case as he did in Senator Stevens'."...
http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/04/siegelman_stevens_case_is_dropped_so_why_not_mine.php

[avaistheone1]

1. Exactly.

Instead the Feds should be seriously turning up the heat on Karl Rove.

[graywarrior]

3. Ain't that the truth

[redqueen]

2. Good question...

I doubt anyone is really wondering... I'm sure most have an idea why.

[Thrill]

4. That is likely to happen if you give him time

[Solomon]

Thank-you. This microwave society we live in now drives me

nuts.

[Raineyb]

5. I'd like to know the answer to that question my damn self. n/t

[ellenfl]

6. perhaps the plan was to START with stevens. throw the

republicans a bone, show them how egalitarian we can be and then release siegelman. of course, rove still has to go under the microscope. perhaps this is the setup for prosecuting the prosecutors.

ellen fl

[nichomachus]

7. Sorry -- we're not "reaching out" to the left this month -- just the radical right

Maybe sometimes next year, but feel free to check back.

[PopSixSquish]

8. And How Does Anyone Know That Won't Happen?

When is his appeal scheduled to be heard?

[stillcool]

15. I wouldn't mind knowing that..

before I passed condemnation.

[polmaven]

19. Exactly....

I have no doubts that the AG will be looking very closely at the case.

If the former Governor was still behind bars, I would see a need for urgency, but he is at home, and I thought the appeal was scheduled soon.

[Cha]

9. Red'd for Don Siegelman

Justice.

[CRAZY_DEM]

10. Cant... Asshole Rethugs would say were doing it for "political purposes" nt

[RaleighNCDUer]

12. Unless it was preceded by a strikingly similar case of prosecutorial

misconduct, to which the Justice Department could point if accused of partisanship.

I think it might happen.

[Freddie Stubbs]

11. Has the judge in his case said that there was prosecutorial misconduct?

The Judge in the Stevens case did.

[masuki bance]

13. The judge in the Stevens case was close to Holder

"...The attorney general also knows the trial judge, Emmett Sullivan, well. The two men served together as judges of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia before each was promoted to higher office.
..."

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=102589818

[Kingofalldems]

21. Many thanks for giving us the GOP view on most subjects

It is very informative to find out what republicans are thinking.

[Usrename]

25. Nobody built Siegelman a house.

There was also plenty of misconduct. Plenty.

[SeaLyons]

14. K&R for Siegelman!!!!!

[sonias]

16. Damn good question

His case is far more clear on the prosecutorial misconduct.

Free Don Siegelman!

Sonia

[Dinger]

17. O.K. Mr. President, Enough Of This "Hands Across The Aisle" Bullshit

You've done more than bend over backwards. If you give 'em and inch, they take a lot more than a mile. Enough is enough. You van put the hammer down, yes you can! YOU'RE the boss, end of story. Now, go get 'em!

[Sebastian Doyle]

18. Mike Malloy mentioned this last night

Said he agreed with Holder's decision to drop the case against Stevens, even though Stevens was more than likely guilty as sin, because:
1) It's the law, and it's always a good thing to have an Attorney General that obeys the law consistently, even when the results suck.

2) The Stevens case was fucked specifically because the Bush Crime Family "justice" department withheld evidence from the defense, and their motive in doing so was blatantly political. By acknowledging this reality and doing what the law requires (i.e. letting Stevens go) it calls attention to the fact that the case against Siegelman was even more blatantly political. Not to mention the fact that Siegelman actually spent several months in prison on this bogus bullshit, unlike that pathetic old 'Puke in Alaska.

[AtomicKitten]

20. A court recently upheld several of the charges against Siegelman.

Still hopefully Holder will give this case a looksie within the parameters of the Bush Justice Dept abuses of which there were many.

[AzDar]

22. Yes. Why not?

:shrug:

[Raineyb]

26. I think Siegelman's case is a hell of a lot more pressing than that old asshole from

Alaska. Siegelman is facing a return trip to jail in front of the same bunch of crooks who sent him there in the first place.

Regards

[Kingofalldems]

23. Kick

[Mithreal]

24. K&R for justice and Siegelman. Holder will be a failure to me unless

he addresses Don Siegelman's case and the other 700 political prosecutions by the Bush Crime Family.

And when is the President going to clean the scum out of the justice department? It needs to become a priority soon.

[ellie]

27. No kidding