Things have gotten started. We missed a few things as the government presents its objections to the presentence report.
Perrine is up again. "There's a host of arrangements....to begin with the Sunday beer sales with the Talladega Speedway...Nick Bailey testified the governor did it..You had the Alabama Legislature mixed up in this...Lanny Young testified Don Siegelman
Fuller - Under the guidelines...if a defendant is charged with conspiracy or corruption of a variety of different acts is it contention the court can add a 4-point enhancement and count five people that might make up different parts of the conspiracy...For example if the Governor was the leader/organizer of a conspiracy that what went on in the governor's officer...but he only organized two or three for the CON Board...can I add people from ...the Lanny Young pay-for-play scheme as you call it...and add those individuals together to qualify....
Perrine..."I want to make sure the court understands...(he) doesn't have to be the leader/orgainzer of each individual scheme...
Fuller - (He talks about the difference between a leader/organizer and a manager.).."There might be a difference between a manager and a leader/organizer...Does the court have to make a separate finding or can you add the individuals involved in both of them...?
Perrine - I think it would be easier for the court to look at the CON Board, where there are five or more participants...To be a participant you need to be criminally involved...There's a difference between unwitting accomplices...I can give you 100 unwitting accomplices...In the CON Board....Defendant Siegelman is directly controlling the activities of Nick Bailey, Eric Hanson, Mike Martin falls under Scrushy, Tim Adams falls under Scrushy, you have ?Siegelman and Scrushy. In pay-for-play there are four participants...
Fuller - What about the probate judge in Cherokee County?
Perrine - I think the court is right Philip Jordan would qualify. That would give you five participants - Paul Hamrick, Nick Bailey....As far as otherwise extensive, there are at least eight government agencies...involved in the Lanny Young pay-for-play...I believe your concerning about combining participants is a non-issue....
James - We object because this is acquitted conduct...The other thing judge that we harped on yesterday is reasonable forseeability...There's no evidence we can event stretch that when Gov. Siegelman appointed Richard Scrushy to the CON Board he knew Tim Adams was going to be involved...The government contradicted themselves in their own argument...He started out saying this whole contribution situation began with Eric Hanson and then shortly thereafter within the next breath I submit he thought better and said it was Governor Siegelman who started it....There is just simply the lack of evidence...Simply because we have a governor....as many people he would have working for him...there are many people who are doing things without his knowledge..."
James - "Case law is clear whethr someone is organizer/leader - what share of the profits do they get?
"It doesn't say criminal offense, where you're talking about a managerial role, it does say criminal activity, my position would be activity is criminal offense....They talk about Mr. Kassouf because he called Gov. Sigelman to get some information....to consider them would be wrong...I truly believe while we're not advocating a role enhancement for Mr. Scrushy...the government said Mr. Scrushy corrupted the officer of governor...Ms. Capel's languaage...There is no known supporting statements that defendant devised a scheme....Bailey testified Siegelman did not know what he was up to and didn't get any of the money...In order for this to fly...you've got to find there was an explicit agreement and there isn't....
Perrine - These two defendants continue to refuse to be accountable for their actions...Both defendants have made numerous representations about what Ms. Capel put in her presentence report...she did not attend the trial...The defense argues that defendant Siegelman did not benefit....he became governor because Lanny Young was willing to give him hundreds of thousands in campaign dollars, signs, travel on airplane to campaign....cash properties...He got a $500,000 bribe used to pay off the loan for which he was personally liable....
Each part of the criminal activity in this case had five or more participants...Each part was otherwise extensive relative to the guidelines...
The judge now wants to talk to the probation officer and steps off the bench to talk to her.
There is more argument being made about who is a leader organizer.
Perrine - The CON Board scheme included five or more members....You can certainly have more than one organizer/leader
Hernandez - the evidence is clear that Mr. Scrushy did not reach out to the governor to pay a bribe...The evidence is clear people came to him...Elmer Harris testified ...it would be good for the state (for Scrushy to go meet Siegelman)...Scrushy did not in any sense of the term organize this scheme....
Fuller - Briefly (someone is talking but we do not know who)
Here are the courts finding of fact: The objection for the failure to apply an acceptance for a credit is overruled....The objection of the application of two points for obstruction of justice is overruled...The objection as to otherwise relevant conduct...the court would cite for the record the U.S. of America vs Clay...The court will apply the law of the circuit....using relevant conduct where appropriate....As to the objection based on judicial estoppel the objection is overruled...As to the government's objections to which the government has argued there was more than one bribe that objection is sustained...The objection by the U.S.....as to Gov. Siegelman being a leader organizer,,,I will freely admit for the record this is a very troubling determination...but based on the evidence....I am unable to find there were five participants who qualify...which would allow me to apply the enhancement...Therefore that objection is overruled...The amount of loss as to Gov. Siegelman....The court has looked at the categories....
The court has looked at the value of the payment made….based upon the evidence I have heard at trial…the arguments made….the court has found that the amount of the bribe was $500,000…the court finds tha amount of the loss for the Goat Hill Construciton project…that same amount of loss $181,325…The amount of benefits received would also include the amount of the Goat Hill construction money paid to Lanny Young…$181,325 plus the amount that was received from Waste Management…$50,000, plus the value of the amount of the motorcycle valued at 9,200 and the benefits Lanny Young received for the sale of the landfill $3 million….
The total $3,740, 525…The amount of benefits would be the largest category 2B1.1…Under the specific events characteristics $3,740, 525 place Gov Siegelman in Category J which …would result in an offense level increase of 18 points…Having made findings…The court adopts the factual statements in the pres…The offense level is 32…The guideline is from 121 months to 151 months the supervised release period is from 2-3 years…and the consolidated fine 17,500 to ?
Fuller - You have my ruling if I am wrong...I feel certain that could be addressed later.
The defendants objections All I will say is the court will apply the law as I find it applicable…I would overrule it as moot and give you the opportunity to appeal…As to the acceptance of responsibility that objection is overruled…as to the objection the court not accept evidence as it relates to Tim Adams…that objection is overruled…As to the base offense levell…that objection is overruled…As to the payment being calculated at $250,000 instead of $500,0000 that objection is overruled…As to the objection to Mr. Scrushy being a leader organizer that objection is overruled
As to the government’s objection there was more than one bribe that objection is sustained…As to the government’s objection…The findings I have made as to the benefit received is the 517,000 bribe and the 11,000 Tim Adams was paid, the 17,000….$528,000 and finally as to the government’s objections to include the words otherwise extensive…that objection will be sustained and the presentence report will be modified…It will also include language that the conduct was otherwise extensive.
As to the U.S.objection seeking an obstruction of justice enhancement that objection is overruled.
The only victim I would consider Mr. Scrushy paying restitution would be to the UBS portion of the loan.
The offense level becomes 30, the criminal history is one, the guideline range is 97 – 121 months ….supervised release 2-3 years per count $15,000 to 150,000
Attorney Robert Abrams is on the stand for Gov. Siegelman...
Abrams - I'm a product of New York City...Columbia Univ. School of Law...Elected to three terms in the New York state assembly...Four terms as attorney general of New York 1978-1993..."
Kilborn - Have you had any other public service
Abrams - No,
Kilborn - That would be enough
Abrams - That's what my wife says
Kilborn - Tell the judge how you know Gov. Siegelman
Abrams - I met Don Siegelman when he became Attorney General...The National Association of Attorneys general meet....there are meetings of various comittees...Attorneys general get to know each other quite well...I appointed him to a body on victims rights...We spent a lot of time together...His family came to my home one Thanksgiving....We spent dinner and walked around a lot together...Lori when she comes to New York stays in our home...I've stayed in their home...I actually came to Montgomery when Don Siegelman was sworn in as governor...I felt very proud...I told a lot of my friends...It was a sunny, cold January day with a couple of thousand people from Alabama because my friend, a person I admire was taking the oath of office...The people had a lot of pride...I remember just going through my mind....Don Siegelman talking progressively about providing an education....for every student in Alabama...It was a very emotional moment...Here was Don Siegelman taking an oath where George Wallace took the oath and Jefferson Davis of the Confederacy took the oath and now the first five people who spoke were African-American....That night at the innaugural ball there was a lot of pride...A newspaper publisher was telling me what a good man he was...and frankly it's also coming to mind you mentioned the lecture series...every year I had the opportunity to ask someone to deliver the message...Senator Joseph Lieberman kicked off the series...this was going to be the third lecture....I put in a call to Don Siegelman...and that little encounter was reflective of what I know of Don Siegelman...there wasn't a second's hesitation...warm, kind, thoughtful...he said I'll be there...He flew in to NY U law school...and what happened at that lecture is reflective...he was humble, gracious...he inspired them...He indicated he was a suporter of the death penalty and he stood his ground...He hung in there and explained why he felt there had to be a death penalty in certain circumsances...He's become a warm, wonderful friend to my wife and myself....We've attended meetings together...Different political ideology...Views that I have are shared by other attorneys general...We've been shocked ...it's a variance...he's honorable, he's been giving, kind, he's deferential he's courteous there's this quality of decency...I believe his honor has received a number of letters....
Kilborn reads from Abrams' letter -
Abrams - Even this morning walking here with ordinary folks coming by and Don takes the time to talk to everybody
Kilborn asks about leniency and going to prison
Abrams - "Look this is personal...who knows the period of terror this has been for them...I think they have paid a very, very heavy price...I think a huge societal penalty has already been imposed...Well believe me I believe, although he is very stalwart...Don is an amazing guy...He has held up his composure...but I know the inner turmoil and hurt this has caused...He does not represent that kind of risk (a flight risk)
Mr. Abrams is questioned by Mr. Feaga
Feaga - I'd like to ask as an attorney general your responsibility included overseeing many prosecutions....
Abrams - Every state has a different structure...In New York there is very limited criminal jurisdiciton...There is some limited white collar...It is more civil than criminal
Feaga - Why would the state of New York delegate to the attorney generral responsibility for white collar prosecution?
Abrams - It's limited...but the basic criminal responsibility is at the borourgh or county
Feaga - Would you agree in the conduct of your office it's very important that you maintain...that you not break the law?
Abrams - Correct
If kids don't believe in their country and government...become part of the process.
Feata - Would you agree when public officials break the public trust...should they be punished...
Abrams - I must tell you....what I read in the newspaper, I wasn't here in the trial...but what some of the findings are are at such variance with what I know about Don Siegelman I couldn't believe he'd be guilty of doing that....I just can't apply He's one of the most decent, humble...human beings I've met in my life
Feaga is asking about the bribe
Abrams says that is not consistent with the Don Siegelman he knows...It's incomprehensible to me that he would be part of that...I think he has suffered tremendously
Feaga is asking about public confidence and officials in their hand in the cookie jar
Abrams - Obviously it's the case but it's so at variance with what I know about this man I can't put the two together...It's the responsibility of the court to impose fair sentences...Again those who know Don Siegelman cannot believe and comprehend what's been happening to him...
Feaga asks about Siegelman trying to get free flying lessons when he was attorney general. Abrams says no.
Feaga made an oops Siegelman was Secretary of State at the time and Feaga corrects the record.
Abrams says he has never met Nick Bailey or Lanny "Young
Kilborn - How do you think it looks...where the incident was on the screen...as a relevant bad act something the Governor was found innocent of by the Ethics committee
Abrams - If Don Siegelman was found innocent I don't know why it would be brought in.
Siegelman motion on downward departure or variance…Ordinarily I would take character witnesses up in the last part…but if you have witnesses who are here…I will give you the ability to call them out of order….If you’re going to call anyone out of order…I would you make very clear the purpose for which testimony is being offered and the court is aware of the nature of the witnesses testimony…I do not want to hear redundant testimony….
Feaga - Is it appropriate to solicit personal things for yourself on office stationary
Abrams - Your leading me down a path that is hypothetical and I usually stay away from that
"Well I appreciate the court's giving me the chance to express myself...Don loved public service I think he did a lot of good...He helped a lot of period and I think this last period of time have been a period of great travail and hurt....I know that they adore him, they idolize him...they respect him and know he has suffered a lot in respect to all of this...
Judge Robert Vance's wife will be taking the stand...Vance was killed by a bomb
Kilborn - You fussed at me when I called you
Vance - I answer more to Helen than I do to Ms. Vance...
She lives in Birmingham. She is the widow of federal judge Robert S. Vance.
He was killed in 1989 when someone sent him a mail bomb...He was killed and I was badly injured...He was an Appeals Court judge on the 11th Circuit...
She thinks he was a judge for 11 years and practiced law for 25 years.
Vance - "I have known Don for about 30 years since he was very young...My husband at the time was chairman of the Democratic state party...He worked as a lawyer in the law firm and with my husband in the political office...four or five years....I really don't know how long...fairly well...as well as I knew anybody in the office...He was always there and always ready to work...He would work on my husband's behalf...
Kilborn - Do yu think your husband taught him right?
Vance - I do
Vance - when my husband was killed I was taken to the hospital and a number of people came to the hospital and Don was one of the people there....It was getting late and Don went out and brought sandwiches and coffee for the people waiting there...For a year or more after my husband died every couple of months Don would call me and see if there was anything he could do for me
Kilborn why did you come all the way down
Vance - Ithink he's a good man and I could not, not come down to testify...I personally do not think anything would be gained by sending Don Siegelman to prison...If you send him to prison you're not going to rehabilitate him he doesn't need rehabilitating...Any further political aspirations are gone...
Feaga - We'd just like to say it's an honor to meet you, thank you for coming.
Bobby Seagal, the attorney, has taken the stand. He started out as Judge Johnson's law firm...
Witness: I've been president of the Alabama State Bar. I was a Bar Commisioner for 9 years...They have a few task forces and those kinds of things...The Bar Commission is the governing arm of the Alabama State Bar...They do not (police the judges)
Segal - "I've known him for around 30 years maybe a little more... I have handled lawsuits with him on the other side. I've handled lawsuits with hom on the same side...When he was AG I had a lawsuit against his office...I think we've been friends. It's hard to know exactly how you become friends with somebody, over the years we've had a lot of personal conversations...We have a lot of conversations that friends have...I know what's in his heart...His son and my son went through Sunday School together...I know how much they love him...Just know him
Kilborn wants opinion on Siegelman's innermost character and ethics.
Seagall - I do think I know him well enough to do that. I think and I know that fundamentally at his corps Don Siegelman is a good kind caring person...I think he is honest...I don't think he's been other than honest...He has a moral corps...He cares deeply about the feelings of other people...I've seen him demonstrate great compassion....He's someone who came to public service to serve...He's a smart person...He could have had an extraordinary legal career...But what he wanted to do is serve...He is a politician...But I have seen him over the years I don't think were designed to help his political career and had all the potential in the world of hurting his poltical career...Don Siegelman is someone who has always cared about the rights of the minority...In the early 70s, he had ambition to run for office but he was outspoken on minority rights when that was not popular...He worked for Bob Vance...Don stood firm in his believe ...in inclusion and participation in the Democratic party...The overwhelming of members did not agree with that decision...He's had a heart for the disadvantaged...I know judge you've heard...Let me just say this...I'm sure somebody has said something about the governor's feeling about public education...There was a concerted effort to destroy public education in this state...in particularly K-12...That's where the effort was aimed at...When he was governor...He was probably a defendant in his capacity...The education budget was in proration....Despite probably the most trusted person in the governor's administration urged him to do what every governor has done and say it applies across the board to everybody...He took a position that under the amendment to the statute...He took the position that it fell less harshly on K-12...You could feel the air go out of his effort to be re-elected...Higher Ed turned 180 degrees the other way...He was told he shouldn't do it but he did it because he thought it was the right thing to do...I am satisfied that this lottery was intended to benefit children in Alabama...I know there was no thought of personal benefit...In fact very shortly after this lottery started...There was a huge campaign mounted against the lottery....I was involved in the 10 Commandments litigation...and many state officials just demogogued that to death...The one person who did not do that, who tried to find a middle ground...He's the one politician who stood out that didn't try to make hay out of that...He is a great human being...."A
I am no authority on the guidelines...There are huge degrees...I would anologize in civil law on wrongful death...The damages, the punishment varies dramatically...I recognize that a sentence to some extent is supposed to send a message and I'm not exactly sure it started...The message a prison sentence would send in this case is wrong...We have gotten into a process of politics by indictment...Someone's talking in terms of AG Gonzalez being indicted...That's the dumbest thing I've heard of...In Alabama anytime a public servant does the least thing questionable...I don't care if it's Scooter Libby, it doesn't matter, the question is...no one could get me to be a public servant because the second you become one you become a target...Someone came to me and was told what can you give me on Don Siegelman, the man had been in office only a month...It's unbelievable...What it tells people is public service is for someone else...With him honor means everything...Because I urged him not to run for governor...He said to me in tears his honor had been destroyed and the only way to get it back was to have this overturned and for people to recognize that he hasn't don't anything wrong...So he's lost his honor...He loves his children, he's losing his family maybe. The trauma to his family has been tremendous...He will lose his law license...I don't think you will find many people that will support the rights of folks...There is a huge difference Don Siegelman has lost through this conviction and the impact it will have on him for the rest of his life....In my opinion there is a 100% chance that Don Siegelman will be wherever the judge tells me to be whenever the judge tells him to be there..."
I think they have a target on their backs.
Mr. Feaga is doing the questioning now and he is talking about ethics complaints and something to do with the tobacco settlement.
Seagall - He was cleared of all that. The Ethics Commission if I am correct...related to a suit bought by the University of South Alabama...The facts showed he didn't take one penny of money
Feaga - Isn't it true that although they structured a severance sort of arrangement for him was given as part of a settlement as part of the Blalock case
Seagall - I don't believe it was even part of the ethics commission charge
The complaint was not filed for that reason...The complaint was filed by a semi-friend of mine in Mobile that every time he sees something he files a complaint....
Flying lessons - I think this was more than 20 years ago and he was exonerated completely...What I do remember is he was totally and completely exonerated...We went to his house and watched the movie "It's a wonderful life.."
Feaga - You've seen the letter that said if you give flying lessons the Secretary of State will....
It's not a good idea for a public official to solicit any type of personal benefit....
Segall - Anybody who writes a letter on anybody's stationary for sure isn't trying to hide anything...It could happen, but I make a distinction in sentencing somebody...In my mind there's a difference between somebody who does things intentionally and someone who makes a mistake...
Feaga - Did you know he solicited buisiness for Cherry-Givens on letterhead that appeared to be from the Lt. Governor's office....
Feaga reads a letter....Would you agree that's not a good idea?
Seagall - There's a lot of lawyer advertising that I don't think is a good idea...Do I think it's a good idea, no...There's a lot of advertising I don't think is a good idea
Feaga wants to move forward to the time Siegelman was governor...
Seagall - What's a good idea and what's a bad idea may be in the eye of the beholder...At the time Melvin Cooper was in charge of the Ethics Commission...If you're asking me would I send this, no it's bad judgment
Feaga - You talked about the Alabama Education Lottery...Do you recall the time...a dustup occurred between Jack Miller and the Democratic Party and Governor Siegelman....
Seagall - I recall you telling me about that...I don't know that I should talk about a conversation I had with him as a lawyer....
Feaga - I guess my question is did you ever talk to him...
Seagall - I think i asked him about it after you told me about it...
Feaga - Also,...I think you were called on as an attorney in his official capacity...to help straighten out a failure to report monies....
Seagall - My opinion is Governor Siegelman did not know anything about that money going up to Boston...and the next question is yes
Seagall says it would be his opinion that Nick Bailey knew about it.
Seagall - The first thing is I don't remember when you told me that...I don't remember in sequence of when Nick Bailey left...I subsequently looked into that...
Feaga wants to know about keeping people in employ who do things without employers knowledge...
Seagall - Again I don't remember...But I thought Nick Bailey at the time that it came up had a reasonable explanation for what was done...The explanation he gave was reasonable...But I'm talking about something I can't remember the facts on
Feaga asks about the late filing of FCPA documents...
Seagall - No disclosure statement had been timely filed...I got a call from someone asking me...if I could oversee the preparation of the report...There was no one to sign it so I signed it as the lawyer...I think it was accurate.
Feaga is asking about public trust, "Do you think it's important they be punished?"
Seagall - First of all, ....my opinion is it is a wonder that innocent people don't get convicted all the time given the advantage the prosecutors have over the defense team...This happened in a state court in the last couple of months...A judge decided she didn't think it was bad and didn't impose a sentence that was required...You can't say this person violated this statute and therefore this person receives a particular person....
Feaga - Are you saying we don't think you ought not to put people in prison who committ criminal offenses...
Seagall - It'a s hypothetical and you're assuming the person breached his duty...There could be a finding by the Court of a breach of duty where a sentence would not be appropriate...
Feaga - If that person is not exhibiting any remorse
Seagall - If you are innocent that is one of the worse catch-22's I've ever seen in my life.
Judge Fuller admonishes members of the audience for applauding, banging the gavel tells him they will be tossed.
Fuller says exhibits will be part of the record, I will say for the record I will not consider conduct for which Gov. Siegelman was charged but exonerated by the Ethics Commission....
Let's move on.
Kilborn - Do you know of any person on the face of the earth that has a target on his back as big as governmnor Siegelman....
Fuller - Let's move on.
Kenneth Maze Marshall is the next witness.
Since the trial Maze has gotten married. Maze is a nickname it derives from a singing group he used to belong to. His physical limitiations - he is a paralyzed veteran...He fell from a helicopter in Korea March 11, 1987 and that's how he became paralyzed.
"When I first got hurt I only made $636 a month and by the time I paid my bills I might have $100 left for that month and I got $10 in foodstamps...I had lost all of my self esteem...People wouldn't approach me in any way...I only had a couple of pieces of clothes to wear...Out of all the people in that room he sought me out and asked me my condition...I told him I was a paralyzed veteran and a wheelchair athlete...He took an interest in me and it really touched me...He gave me his personal information to contact me...I wanted to see if he would remember me....And we went to his office...He not only acknoledge that he knew me, He welcomed me with open arms. (Maze has begun to cry on the stand.) There was a time sir I had to eat every two days because I didn't have enough money to eat...The governor would invite me to functions where they served food and he didn't know it but that was how I ate...I apolgize...That's how I ate a lot of times sir, because of this man...The generosity he has shown me...He displayed love not only to me, but to others in simialr situations...The people no one wants to be around...He reaches out to them...That's how deep my love is for this man and his family...I went to the Sydney Olympics in 2000 and while I was there I won three gold medals...and upon my return my medals were stolen and WSFA or one of the stations did a story about it...The governor put a reward out...They were never returned...Javelin, shotput and discus...The Lord reversed that situation...The Lord stepped in and said enough was enough and reinstated my full benefits as a paralyzed veteran...You have better intellect than I have...If you had two children and one of those children had a history of bad acts, but you hardly ever had a history....The one that had a history , you would whip them...The other child you would simply adomonish and explain to them...and you have done more than if you would have whipped them...He's not a criminal...I don't know the law...All I know is that's a good man...That's a man that reaches out to people no one else reaches out to....It oversells the punishment in my opion...He does more for the underserved citizens of this state...That man runs from nothing. He's here today...If he's let out on bond pending appeal...He's not going anywhere...That's an honorable man, who I said runs from nothing...
Leach wants to know if Maze knows Mr. Scrushy
Maze - I've known him for 10 years...Someone introduced him to me because of my status as a wheelchari athlete...the opinion that I have is nothing compared to all of our judges, that is God...He is a Christian man...All I know of this man is honorable...He does things that people are unaware of...He feeds 2,000 children in Africa every month...Mr. Scrushy had a private jet and a yacht...I'm not a rocket scientist but I do believe if he wanted to leave he could have been gone..."
The judge is sorting through things, upward and downward departures and variances. And then character witnesses in mitigation...Because of the time today we're going to break...We're going to start in the morning with argument from Gov. Siegelman related to the motions...The government will have the opporunity to argue..then make any findings of fact or changes to the guideline...Then we would get into the area of sentencing...
Siegelman and Scrushy will have the opportunity to say anything in mitigation tomorrow. Start time 8:30 a.m.
well, er, june, they have not been indicted. If they were, perhaps your buddy, ole speeding ticket fixer himself, U W Clemon (nee U.S. District Judge) would see fit to set them free under the same circumstances he did for Bobo & Siegelman. As it stands, no substantial mitigating testimony so it is reasonable to expect Siegelthief and Scrushy to receive the cieling under the guidelines. Anything less tells lowell barron he can get off. June I am sorry your hero disappointed you, but in reality, he has been a thief his entire career. I only hope you got your 10% in cash, goods or services from the machine.
Posted by: publius | June 27, 2007 at 10:27 PM
I am so sorry that all the people of AL are not able to sit in the court room in Montgomery and hear what is really happening. They would see a group of US attorneys that would make them ashamed to to be Americans. These men have twisted the truth until it is not recognizable. Gov. Seigleman and Richard Scrushy have done nothing that is not done in every political race across this great nation of ours. Why is Gov. Riley and Dr. Swaid Swaid not being prosecuted. Dr. Swaid contributed to Riley's campaign fund and guess what?? He is on the CON board and even is the Chairman. Please explain to me how this is different from the Seigleman/Scrushy case. Mr. Scrushy was trying to help pay off campaign debts that he truely did not believe in but was trying to do his part to help the state of AL. These two men have been punished enough. I know that I will never again donate to a campaign fund. I think that that is a lesson we should all take from this travesty of justice.
Posted by: June | June 27, 2007 at 09:17 PM
i find it odd that the widow vance actually helped the govt. it is stranger that bobby segall says his kids are in sunday school. my God, these democrats not only are pathological liars, they actually believe what they say. I hope the Feds do Siegelman II on the rest of Alabama government starting with the legislature. So far, no one is moved by the mitigating testimony, I guess that comes from bill blount and lanny young. By the way, what happened to Jack Miller's testimony that was published here this morning? hmmm....
Posted by: publius | June 27, 2007 at 06:04 PM
Let's face it. The SOBs were found guilty by an impartial jury of their peers. Throw them in jail and be done with it already.
Posted by: Reality | June 27, 2007 at 05:47 PM
What a sad day for Alabama. If we put the men that have served our state in jail for the same acts that are ongoing today in our government then have we not just simply played favorites? I think they have suffered enough and lost their careers, life savings, and reputations. Hopefully the truth will come out eventually and they will be vindicated.
Posted by: At Bay | June 27, 2007 at 05:08 PM
I have had the honor of knowing Don for many years and find it hard to believe he would be involved in what he has been accused of. He is a very caring, loving person and truly loves his fellow mankind. I don't know to many politicians that would take the time to ask about someone that just works with the state how their son was when he was having a lot of surgery and his parents were going to SC with the Shriners everyone month. He would take the time to meet with us and talk to the son and give him encouraging words. God Bless You Don and God will prevail.
Posted by: Linda | June 27, 2007 at 04:57 PM