Breaking: Don Siegelman will be released for House testimony

[kpete]

Breaking: Don Siegelman will be released for House testimony
by Billary Redux
Thu Mar 27, 2008 at 09:36:46 AM PDT
Politico calls it a victory for the Blogosphere

Thanks to the persistence of progressive blogs and "60 Minutes," a fascinating story now will be scrutinized everywhere. Wonder if any TV stations in Alabama will have, um, technical difficulties with this bulletin.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/3/27/123455/791/705/485415

March 27, 2008
Categories: Blogs

A victory for the blogosphere


Thanks to the persistence of progressive blogs and "60 Minutes," a fascinating story now will be scrutinized everywhere. Wonder if any TV stations in Alabama will have, um, technical difficulties with this bulletin.

Date: 03/27/2008 12:10 PM

BC-Siegelman-Democrats/179
EDs: APNewsNow; Will be led.
House panel seek Siegelman testimony before Congress
By BEN EVANS
Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House Judiciary Committee has asked the Justice Department to temporarily release former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman from prison to testify before Congress in early May about possible political influence over his prosecution.

A spokeswoman for the committee said Thursday that Siegelman, who is serving more than seven years in a Louisiana prison, would travel to Washington under guard of the U.S. Marshals Service. She said Committee Chairman John Conyers, a Michigan Democrat, wants to hear directly from Siegelman because lawmakers are having trouble getting information elsewhere, including from the Justice Department.

Siegelman, a Democrat, was elected governor in 1998 and served one term. He was convicted in 2006 on six bribery-related and one obstruction of justice charge. Democrats last year began reviewing the case as part of a broader investigation what they said were selective prosecutions by the Bush administration.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0308/A_victory_for_the_blogosphere.html

[lovuian]

1. WooHoo

:woohoo:

[Cooley Hurd]

2. If the US Marshalls give him the Jose Padilla treatment during transport...

...there SHOULD be hell to pay!!!


:grr::grr::grr:

[Junkdrawer]

3. Did the Justice Department say "Yes" yet?

:shrug:

Remember: ASKING for email transcripts and GETTING them are two different things.

[wryter2000]

4. Is this actually going to happen?

The Judiciary Committee has asked for lots of things before, but * always makes sure they don't get them.

This could be totally awesome!

[fascisthunter]

5. kick (nt)

[democrank]

6. Good.

Let`s hope something will come of this.

[Maat]

7. Good.

Thank God for Conyers. I hope this matter gets thoroughly reviewed.

[malaise]

8. Great news

Free Don Siegelman!!

[progressoid]

9. Holy shit

Color me shocked. I never thought it would happen.

[1776Forever]

10. One for the good guys!!!! Yes!

:woohoo: :applause: :woohoo: :applause:

[dkofos]

11. This could get interesting!!

[H8fascistcons]

12. Sorry....

Hate to be the skeptic here but I simply have no faith in John Conyers or the Democrats as a whole. The only silver lining in this cloud is if they drag this thing out long enough that it will involve the arrest of Karl Rove, after the Fascist Bush is gone and therefore cannot issue a pardon...

[trof]

25. If you have no faith in Democrats, why are you here?

How about not pissing on our parade, OK?
I live in Alabama.
I and a few others have worked our asses off to bring this about.
Try and enjoy the moment and welcome to DU.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

13. It's a step.

Hope they continue to march towards justice at a little faster pace than we have previously witnessed.

[Frustratedlady]

14. Well, that 60 minute video sure shows how they work...

Rove has got to be stopped before the GE. He is poison to this country and to all of us.

I'm glad to see they will release Siegelman. Maybe he'll never have to go back. They should put Rove in his place.

[seemslikeadream]

15. please no small planes

[annabanana]

16. Oh I hope they televise this!! (Contact CSpan!). . .n/t

[AzDar]

17. W00t!!

:thumbsup:

[seemslikeadream]

18. Is he released pending appeal or just for testimony?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3245262

[Pastiche423]

19. It appears that it's just for his testmony

But w/his appeal being filed next month (April), he should be allowed to stay out - just like he should have been allowed to stay out pending appeal in the 1st place.

[Junkdrawer]

20. After this story broke, better news came out:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=3068963&mesg_id=3068963

[trof]

27. The court order:

http://blog.al.com/bn/2008/03/sieg0327080001.pdf

[trof]

21. Got the news in this email:

Former Alabama Governor Don Siegelman will be released on bond pending
appeal, according to a ruling by the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in
Atlanta today, the Associated Press is reporting.

In the ruling, the three-judge panel said Siegelman had raised ³substantial
questions of fact and law² in challenging his conviction.

Also today, the United States House Judiciary Committee asked the Justice
Department to allow Siegelman to be released so he can testify before
Congress about possible political influence over his prosecution, according
to the AP DC bureau.

Committee Chairman John Conyers, a Michigan Democrat, believes Siegelman
³would have a lot to add to the committee¹s investigation into selective
prosecution,² said Melanie Roussell, a spokeswoman for the committee.

More details later.

The Locust Fork News and Journal
http://www.locustfork.net/
http://blog.locustfork.net/

[horseshoecrab]

24. Double wonderful!!!

:woohoo:

horseshoecrab

[seemslikeadream]

34. a lot to add

would have a lot to add to the committee¹s investigation into selective
prosecution

[trof]

22. YeeHaa! K&R

Tears are running down my face.
We've worked so long on this.
THANK YOU DUERS!

[horseshoecrab]

23. Wonderful!

woot!

horseshoecrab

[SalmonChantedEvening]

26. K&R!! n/t

[trof]

28. The court order;

http://blog.al.com/bn/2008/03/sieg0327080001.pdf

[Junkdrawer]

29. The only part that troubles me...

"Siegelman shall be released on the same terms and conditions as those governing his release pending sentencing."

Could those terms preclude his testifying before Conyers' committee? :shrug:

[trof]

30. Naw. Standard boilerplate.

Will not attempt to leave the U.S. or the jurisdiction of its courts.
Probably have to post a bond.
Blah blah blah.

[Junkdrawer]

31. That promises to be one hell of a hearing, huh?

C-Span will have a hard time not covering it...

[trof]

33. I'm hoping for a "Welcome Back, Don" party.

And you can bet your ass I will BE there!
I want to shake that man's hand.

[L. Coyote]

32. Three cheers! Drip, drip, drip! Like water on stone, truth gets its way eventually.

Three cheers for those anonymous blogosphere inhabitants!

This is a great reward for many hours sent on this issue. Perhaps an answer is emerging:

Political Prisoner Don Siegelman: Will the 60 Minutes Spotlight Make a Difference?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x2909551