Scrushy, Siegelman to be Tried Together
February 2nd, 2006 |
| Photo by Glynn Wilson |
| Former Gov. Don Siegelman maintains his innocence outside the federal courthouse in Montgomery, Ala., and insists he is still running for governor. |
U.S. District Judge Mark Fuller ruled Thursday that deposed HealthSouth founder Richard Scrushy will be tried together with former Gov. Don Siegelman and two other defendants in what is being called a “government corruption case” scheduled to begin May 1, according to the Associated Press.
“In this case, the court finds that there is no reasonable possibility that the jury will not be able to keep track of the evidence as it pertains to each defendant,” Fuller said in his ruling.
Uh, oh. It looks like Siegelman and Scrushy are screwed. It may be a political prosecution by Republican federal prosecutors in Siegelman’s case, but keeping Scrushy at the defense table with Siegelman will make it hard for the jury to separate the charges.
Unless the Scrushy legal team can pack the jury pool with more black jurors, that is, and taint the jury pool in Montgomery the way the press accused them of doing in Birmingham.
As for the Alabama governor’s race, it is hard to imagine Siegelman staying in the Democratic Party primary now. Most of the big money Democrats are switching their support to Lt. Gov. Lucy Baxley, as indicated by the most recent campaign financial disclosure forms.
According to the Birmingham News, Baxley reported $1.2 million in contributions as of Tuesday, while Siegelman showed $105,065 in contributions and a $300,000 loan from his brother.
Baxley Leads Siegelman in Fund Raising
Tags: Alabama Governor's Race, HealthSouth's Richard Scrushy On Trial
