Posted on 10/26/2005 7:39:26 PM PDT by au eagle
Federal grand jury indicts former governor Don Siegelman and others
Federal prosecutors say former Alabama Governor Don Siegelman and three others have been indicted in a "widespread racketeering conspiracy" that includes bribery and extortion.
The alleged actions occurred between 1999 and 2003 -- Siegelman's term office.
Former director of the Department of Transportation, Gary Mack Roberts, former Healthsouth CEO Richard Scrushy, and Siegelman's former press secretary, Paul Hamrick are also included in the indictment, which includes 30 counts.
According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's office, Siegelman and Hamrick are accused of extortion. They allegedly threatened businesses in Alabama with harmful action by the DOT unless those businesses came up with the necessary cash.
Roberts is accused of influencing DOT actions on behalf of the former governor. He is charged with mail and wire fraud.
Scrushy is accused of making disguised payments of more than $500,000 to Siegelman in exchange for an appointment to a key state hospital regulatory board.
Last year, Siegelman and Hamrick, were indicted by another grand jury for allegedly rigging state medicaid contracts, but those charges were dropped.
Siegelman, who is running for another term as governor, had predicted that he would be indicted. He has long maintained that the charges are politically motivated.
Well, I guess that Don perhaps will NOT be running again.
No party but I know this puke is a democrat.
For the life of me, I can't figure out which political party he represents. It's certainly not in the article.
Amazing!!! How did you know?
I assumed that Siegleman was therefore a Democrat, and did a google search.
My thesis was confirmed when it was revealed that, indeed, he is the former Democrat governor of Alabama.
He is, but curiously the story did not include the democrat or (D) designation. I wonder why?
dung.
I think you're on to something...
Hee Hee Hee Hee... Perfect timing too.
BTTT...
Because it isn't REPUBLICAN.....
Will this affect Parkman and Scrushy's movie career? Nominal fee, indeed.
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