Judge Asks For Investigation of Siegelman Prosecution
May 29th, 2009In the latest development in the federal case against former Alabama Governor Don Siegelman, retired Chief U.S. District Judge U.W. Clemon of Birmingham recently wrote a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder seeking a probe of misconduct by federal prosecutors, including their alleged “judge-shopping,” jury-pool “poisoning” and “unfounded” criminal charges in an effort to imprison Siegelman and forestall his election campaign in 2006.
Judge Clemon, a highly respected jurist and one of the first African American judges in the American South, took this unusual step because he felt duty bound to report corruption that occurred on his watch, according to an announcement from the non-profit Velvet Revolution.
This development comes days after detailed evidence revealed that Siegelman’s trial judge, Mark Fuller, was chosen to preside over the trial because he had a “grudge” against Siegelman which bordered on hatred because Siegelman appointed an investigator to look into Fuller’s shady activities.
Siegelman Deserves New Trial Because of Judge’s ‘Grudge’, Evidence Shows
Moreover, the new evidence makes a strong case that Judge Fuller labors under conflicts of interest because he owns a majority share in Doss Aviation, which receives hundreds of millions in contracts from the military and has ties to CIA activities.
Last week, VR called for the removal of Siegelman’s prosecutor, Laura Canary, and for an investigation into the activities of Judge Fuller, both which now have been echoed by Chief Judge Clemon in his letter to Eric Holder.
“What more does it take, Mr. Holder, to clear the stench of corruption from this case?,” the release asks, and then demands: “Step in and enforce the rule of law, now!”
Tags: Don Siegelman, Eric Holder, Mark Fuller, U.W. Clemon
May 29th, 2009 at 11:15 am
This just in from Don Siegelman via e-mail:
We are now drawing near the final hour of my legal battles.
The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals has denied my request for a re-hearing of our arguments which could have led to overturning my politically motivated prosecutions.
Meanwhile, the Bush-appointed U.S. Attorney and her henchmen, still in power in Alabama, are seeking an additional 20 in my re-sentencing. This is after the court absolved me of two charges. And all this because I re-appointed a contributor to a board he had served on under three previous Governors, and for which I did not profit a single penny.
We must continue the legal fight in the U.S. Supreme Court. The work that my lawyers are now doing is critical to my freedom but will be an extraordinary financial burden. Just the appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to cost more than $150,000. That’s why I am asking you to please donate as much as you possibly can to my Legal Defense Fund today.
Click here to donate to my Legal Defense Fund today — and help me keep fighting for justice!
Beyond the legal battles, we’re continuing the fight for justice in other ways. We are reaching out to members of the U.S. House and Senate to uncover the truth about the real motivation for my prosecution and the many other instances of prosecutorial misconduct. Already Karl Rove has had to appear before one grand jury and is expected to be called to appear before the House Judiciary Committee.
We’re also fighting our battle in the press. A bipartisan group of 54 state Attorneys General told the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in an open letter and amicus brief that such an interpretation of the law “puts at risk every politician who accepts a campaign contribution…” The New York Times has also asked the Department of Justice to investigate my case, citing a letter from 75 former state Attorneys General who said the issues raised in my case “require an immediate investigation, because they go to the core concepts of fairness and due process, which are at the foundation of our criminal justice and legal system.”
With everything that was mishandled with my case, sometimes it’s tough to keep track of it all. Here are the greatest hits:
I was prosecuted for something that The New York Times said has never been a crime.
I was selectively prosecuted (Time Magazine)
Witnesses were coached, false testimony given and evidence withheld (60 Minutes, CBS, February 24, 2008)
I was brought to trial one month before the Democratic Primary.
The prosecutor is the wife of Karl Rove’s best friend, a man who was my opponent’s campaign manager.
There’s sworn testimony that Karl Rove was involved.
Jurors emailed other jurors during the trial seeking votes for conviction.
Jurors passed notes to the prosecutors during the course of the trial.
Prosecutors had private communications with the judge.
That’s quite a list. But you’ve been with us for a while now and already know most of this. Many of you have already personally reached out to Congress, President Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder seeking the truth and the restoration of justice
For these actions I am truly grateful and I ask that you please continue to help me fight for the truth. Can you make a donation today to support that effort?
The work that you’ve done in contacting the White House, your members of Congress and Attorney General Holder and the work of my lawyers is important to my freedom but has been an extraordinary financial burden. This is why I am asking you to please donate as much as you can to my Legal Defense.
Donate today!
Thank you so much for your continued support in these difficult times.
Sincerely,
Don Siegelman
Governor of Alabama 1999-2003
May 29th, 2009 at 5:49 pm
There was so much legally wrong with this case, as I sat
there in the courtroom, I saw and heard the bias
attitude that Judge Fuller and the prosecutors had
toward the defense.
This case should have been a mistrial.
Hopefully the Supreme Court will have knowledge
of the wrongs in this case.
Our fight for our Democracy and Justice
will endur.There should never
had been a case made of this political incident.
May 30th, 2009 at 1:26 am
Mr. Siegleman,
I sincerely wish you good luck. What’s happening to you is horrible and I want you to know that I care what happens to you.
Karl Rove is an evil man. He must be tried and prosecuted.
And you must remain free.
May 30th, 2009 at 11:15 am
Obama’s a gutless phuque, if he doesn’t pardon Siegelman.
Just DO IT! Jaysus!
Especially after pardoning that cretious, criminal, venal, lying sack o’shit, Ted Stevens for technical violations far less damaging to fairness and justice than those the Siegelman prosecution pulled..
Then: And will somebody tell me why there are ANY Bushevik US Attys still holding power?
Has gutless flunky Obama not the stones to challenge them? To demand their resignations, post haste?
He has the power, and every previous Prez has done it.
Especially since the ones left over are either the ones who passed the GOPuke political interference litmus test in 2005, or were appointed to replace those who DIDN’T!
May 30th, 2009 at 1:07 pm
President Obama certainly is aware of the Siegelman case and, my bet, as a former law professor likely has his own opinion about the verdict.
Why hasn’t he just pardoned Siegelman? He could, at any time. Likely he is waiting, hoping that the federal court system itself will reverse Siegelman’s conviction, an outcome that truly clears Don’s name and paves the way for actions against those who abused justice on behalf of politics.
And, if Obama pardoned Siegelman now, before the judicial process plays itself out, detractors could always claim Don got off only because a fellow Democrat in the White House pardoned him.
Use of the pardon power is the last option, and again, my guess is that Obama hopes he will not have to use it, that the courts will themselves clean this up and do the right thing.
May 31st, 2009 at 12:16 pm
Years ago, as I read of the Nazi’s prosecution of their critics, I sincerely believed that type activity would never take place in the United States. We had a free press and a court system structured with too many safe guards for defendants. The 8 years of Bush/Cheney/Rove proved our system is just as vulnerable to manipulation by powerful interests as was Germany’s in the ’30s. And a disinterested or misinformed population is just as dangerous as evil politicians. We have had both in the last few years.
May 31st, 2009 at 12:46 pm
Woody,
Two names matter on your bold question, at least as it concerns Alabama. Artur Davis and Jeff Sessions.
Alan: Bush/Cheney/Rove did what they did at the bidding of corporate America, where the idea was to grab as much of the wealth as possible before the American Empire came to it’s inevitable end. This is not some crazy conspiracy theory. In fact, the end of American empire and the rise of China was a big discussion on CNN today, albeit most likely over the heads of a majority of Americans.
I’m working on something now for a Sunday column on the grand theory of the human Immortality Drive. Sometimes I call my columns Sunday School, only in part as a joke : )
June 1st, 2009 at 1:10 pm
What’s going in this case is a disgrace to American judcial system. Why has this been allowed to continue?
Mr. Sieglman I wonder how you feel about Dr. Herrara’s Case now? the one you help blow up in the media for your own political points. Turns out he was railroaded also, except you were driving the train in that case. Not fun when the shoes on the other foot, aey?
June 2nd, 2009 at 9:04 pm
Don’t know anything about that case, but thanks…
June 30th, 2009 at 3:58 pm
[...] which documents political prosecutions across the country by the Bush administration. It also cites the letter written by retired federal judge U.W. Clemon to Attorney General Eric Holder asking for an [...]