Don Siegelman's case is exploding. Here's a partial transcript of Thom Hartmann's interview with Don earlier today (and, below that, AP's article on US Attorney Leura Canary's close involvement in his case, even after she "recused" herself).





Let's remember, BTW, that Bush/Rove's long crusade against Don Siegelman began with the theft of his re-election in 2002, as Don himself has said (and yet the media has all along refused to talk about it).





Those of you who are interested in that may find two essays on Don's stolen re-election in Loser Take All--one, on the political context of the theft, by Larisa Alexandrovna, the other, on the method used to steal the votes in Baldwin County, by James Gundlach.





MCM





Friday, November 14, 2008



By GottaLaff

Don Siegelman

Butch Dill / AP

Don Siegelman is talking to Thom Hartmann right now, about the Department of Justice's cover-up/misconduct in his 2006 legal case/conviction. Liveblogging (please excuse the half-sentences):



Don: There are new revelations that DoJ was involved in a cover-up of the unethical and seemingly criminal activity going on in the Alabama's U.S. Attorney matters. A juror had romantic fantasies of the FBI sitting at the U.S. Attorney's desk at the trial... it wasn't disclosed, whether there were personal contacts (she did have contact with the U.S. Marshall)... the DoJ finds out and they cover it up!

Conyers says the evidence raises "serious questions" about the U.S. Attorney in the Siegelman case, who, documents show, continued to involve herself in the politically charged prosecution long after she had publicly withdrawn to avoid an alleged conflict of interest relating to her husband, a top GOP operative and close associate of Bush adviser Karl Rove. Conyers' letter also cites evidence of numerous contacts between jurors and members of the Siegelman prosecution team that were never disclosed to the trial judge or defense counsel.

Recused US attorney

discussed Siegelman case

11/14/2008, 3:23 p.m. ET

By BEN EVANS

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) - A U.S. attorney who recused herself from the corruption case against former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman because of potential political conflicts still closely monitored the case and communicated with prosecutors about it, according to information from a whistleblower.

The allegations that U.S. Attorney Leura Canary didn't completely stay out of the politically charged prosecution were detailed in a letter from House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers to Attorney General Michael Mukasey last week.

Siegelman - a Democrat - has alleged his prosecution was pushed by Republicans, including former White House adviser Karl Rove, a Texas strategist who was once heavily involved in Alabama politics.

Canary recused herself from the case because her husband is a longtime Republican strategist with strong ties to Siegelman's political foes, including Rove and Republican Gov. Bob Riley. She has consistently maintained that career lawyers handled the prosecution and that she obeyed a strict "firewall."

Siegelman, who served one term as governor before losing to Riley in 2002 amid allegations of corruption, was convicted in 2006 on bribery and other charges. He was sentenced to more than seven years in prison but released earlier this year when a federal appeals court ruled his appeal raised "substantial questions."

Conyers cites one e-mail in which Canary forwarded prosecutors a letter from Siegelman to his supporters.

"Ya'll need to read because he refers to a 'survey' which allegedly shows that 67 percent of Alabamians believe the investigation of him to be politically motivated," she wrote. "Perhaps grounds not to let him discuss court activities in the media?"

The whistleblower, a legal aide in Canary's office named Tamarah Grimes, also is quoted as saying Canary "kept up with every detail of the case."

Canary's office referred calls Friday to the Justice Department. Justice spokesman Peter Carr said the agency would review the letter.

The agency is investigating Siegelman's case and others in response to allegations of selective prosecution under the Bush administration. According to Conyers, Grimes reported her allegations in a complaint filed with the Justice Department last year.

The complaint also cites what Grimes believed to be inappropriate contact between the prosecution team and jurors. It includes e-mails in which a lead prosecutor says "a couple" of jurors were romantically interested in an FBI agent who worked closely on the case. Jurors passed notes through U.S. Marshals asking whether the agent was married.

In his letter, Conyers, D-Mich., noted that there are strict rules against even innocuous contacts with jurors and said the risk of juror bias was obvious.

Siegelman attorney Vince Kilborn said he was "appalled" by the new information, particularly because juror conduct is a key issue in the appeal.

"This is going to seriously undermine the government's credibility," Kilborn said.

But he called it "frustrating" that the information became available so late. Oral arguments are scheduled before the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta on Dec. 9, and attorneys already have filed their briefs.

Prosecutors charged Siegelman with accepting and concealing a $500,000 contribution from former HealthSouth CEO Richard Scrushy for the governor's campaign to start a state education lottery. In return, prosecutors said, Siegelman appointed Scrushy to a regulatory board.

Last year, a former Republican campaign volunteer from Alabama told congressional attorneys that she overheard conversations suggesting that Rove pressed Justice to prosecute and that Canary's husband, Bill, suggested his wife would take care of Siegelman.

The prosecutors who handled Siegelman's case have insisted that politics played no role, emphasizing that the former governor was convicted by a jury.