Which is ahy, when TPM broke the story many months ago, there was a great deal of letters, calls, etc. sent to Justice Dept. about this, and to MSM.
And Seiglman was released from jail pending a new hearing.
And the House Judiciary Comm. did hold a hearing at the time, I believe.

Siegelman commended the committee for securing Rove's agreement to testify under oath.

So did Rove ever testify under oath? Did rove ever even bother to SHOW UP?

Hmmmmmmmmm.......

IF the House Judiciary Committee recieved thousands of emails about Siegelmann's unjust conviction, their is a greater chance the perpetrators (Karl Rove and the PRosecutor, Canary, wife of the political opponent of Siegelmann, to name two) of this travesty might actually be brought to justice.


Wouldn't it be GREAT if Democratic Underground played a part in bringing Karl Rove to justice?!!!!!

An email campaign will make a difference? Really? After all that has happened, do you think that receiving emails spelling out what is already obvious will make a difference.

and they are not convinced, then they never will be.

BE SPECIFIC! That is the best way to get this going.

Rove agreed but only behind closed door hearings.

if they're not held accountable, those responsible for his railroading will keep using the same tactics - and others will learn from them.

for the latest action updates and donate a little, if you can:

http://www.donsiegelman.org/

Thanks for this OP!

The sad thing is the helplessness one feels when it seems as if nothing, absolutely noyhing is going to be done about it.

click on links provided and tell Obama or the Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee oryour representatives or senators that this is a threat to our democracy and the perpetrators must be brought to justice? If enough people send in comments it can make a difference.

Plus, it'll make you feel good to speak up!

The crime he was accused of was so benign (trading an unpaid state committee position for a donation to support starting a state lottery) that it is not really a crime. There was no attempt at self-gain by Siegelman (let alone all the other injustices in this case). This seems like a classic case that justifies a Presidential pardon or commutation down to a misdemeanor.

to detract from larger crimes and the real perps in Alabama?

The focus should be on the stolen elections including Siegelman's in 20002, on the Big Oil vendetta, on Gaming Corruption and Abramoff, on illegal campaign money, and on politicization of prosecution by the Bush USAs.

Remember, it was a Republican operative that started us down this path, and Republican journalists promoting the Rove role. They know their own crimes, and how to direct the focus away from them!! BEWARE!!

Deja DUs:

Some Reflections on "Rove in State of Panic." Are things what they seem?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3183926

Abramoff and Kark Rove Linked to Prosecution of Ex-Alabama Governor and Campaign Finances
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1023111

KARL ROVE at work? Uncovering the Arkansas AND Missouri USA Firings?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1065158

demonstrating sufficient fervor in pursuing prosecutions against Democrats. But this investigation is moving very slowly.

I thought some emails from citizens would have a positive affect. It does help to let people in Washington know there are people who care about these things! Assuming there are people who care enough to send an email .. or TWO emails (even).

Introductory letter to John Conyers, Chairman, House Judiciary Committee: http://www.donsiegelman.net/files/LETTER_from_44.pdf


petition: http://www.donsiegelman.net/files/Final_Petition.pdf


To the House & Senate Judiciary Committees:

We, the undersigned former state attorneys general – both Democrats and Republicans –
urge the U.S. Congress to investigate the circumstances surrounding the investigation,
prosecution, sentencing, and detention of Don Siegelman, the former governor of Alabama.
As the former chief law enforcement officers for our respective states, we honor the rule of
law, the sanctity of juries, and the important deterrent effect of prosecution and – in most
cases -- incarceration. We are also reticent to argue the facts of a case where we have not
had an opportunity to personally review each piece of evidence and its relationship to the
applicable law.

However, as numerous national and state media have pointed out, there is reason to believe
that the case brought against Governor Siegelman may have had sufficient irregularities as to
call into question the basic fairness that is the linchpin of our system of justice. We urge the
Congress to take immediate action to investigate this entire matter so that the public may be
assured that the outcome is just.

While we do not know all of the facts of this case, we do know the following:
(1) Governor Siegelman is currently incarcerated at a Bureau of Prisons facility, having been
refused release on bail pending appeal. Indeed, he was even denied 45 days to report to
prison to give him time to put his affairs in order, an opportunity which is commonly
granted.

(2) A lawyer who had worked in the campaign of Governor Siegelman’s opponent in the
2006 gubernatorial contest has sworn in a recent affidavit that the spouse of the federal
prosecutor in this case stated that his wife and another federal prosecutor would “take care
of” Mr. Siegelman and that he had talked with a political operative for the White House
concerning such assurances.

(3) In an unrelated but recent case, a low-level employee in another state administration was
prosecuted and convicted by another U.S. Attorney before a U.S. Court of Appeals ordered
her immediate release from prison and reversed the trial verdict calling the prosecution
evidence “beyond thin.”

(4) Another former Governor of Alabama was convicted of corruption charges a few years
ago in a case where he personally benefited from his action and was sentenced to probation.
That case was handled by the same lead prosecutor as in the Siegelman case.

(5) The sentence sought by the prosecutor in Governor Siegelman’s case -- 30 years -- was
excessively disproportionate, and the sentence imposed -- 7 years, 4 months -- was harsh.

(6) While we are not privy to all the evidence, we are aware that there are numerous
apparently legitimate (and arguably compelling) appealable issues in this case, as confirmed
by a number of legal scholars. There have been allegations of jury misconduct and the
possible introduction of extrinsic evidence into the jury deliberation process that have not
been fully investigated. For this reason, and because Governor Siegelman is not in any way a
flight risk, the denial of a bond pending appeal appears inappropriate, and the shackling of
the Governor in handcuffs and leg irons as he was taken out of the courtroom was shocking.
The U.S. justice system should be above reproach. The only way to convince the public that
the Governor is not the victim of a politically motivated double-standard is for Congress to
investigate all aspects of the case thoroughly.


Jeffrey A. Modisett-Indiana
Robert T. Stephan-Kansas
Robert Abrams-New York
Grant Woods-Arizona
________________________________________________________________________
Ken Eikenberry-Washington John K. Van de Kamp-California
M. Jerome Diamond-Vermont Walter W. Cohen-Pennsylvania
W.J. Michael Cody-Tennessee Frank J. Kelley-Michigan
Bonnie J. Campbell-Iowa Francis X. Bellotti-Massachusetts
Neil F. Hartigan-Illinois Heidi Heitkamp-North Dakota
Larry EchoHawk-Idaho Hubert H. Humphrey, III-Minnesota
Mike Moore-Mississippi J. Knox Walkup-Tennessee
Scott Harshbarger-Massachusetts Frankie Sue Del Papa-Nevada
Chris Gorman-Kentucky Oliver Koppell-New York
Charles Oberly-Delaware Bruce Botelho-Alaska
Andrew Ketterer-Maine Andrew P. Miller-Virginia
Dennis J. Roberts, II-Rhode Island Steve Clark-Arkansas
Joseph P. Mazurek-Montana Anthony F. Troy-Virginia
Michael Lilly-Hawaii Frank V. Mendocino-Wyoming
Mary Sue Terry-Virginia Robert H. Quinn-Massachusetts
Michael C. Turpen-Oklahoma C. William Ullrich-Guam
Robert J. Del Tufo-New Jersey Duane Woodard-Colorado
Richard Ieyoub-Louisiana Travis Medlock-South Carolina
Richard Opper -Guam Charles G. Brown-West Virginia
Richard Wier-Delaware Edwin L. Pittman-Mississippi