Former Alabama governor, ex-CEO convicted - Siegelman, Scrushy

AP on Yahoo ^ | 6/29/06 | Bob Johnson - ap

[NormsRevenge]

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Former Gov. Don Siegelman and former Health South CEO Richard Scrushy were convicted Thursday in a bribery scheme that derailed Siegelman's campaign to retake his former office.

Siegelman, 60, was accused of trading government favors for campaign donations when he was governor from 1999 to 2003 and lieutenant governor from 1995 to 1999.

Scrushy was accused of arranging $500,000 in donations to Siegelman's campaign for a state lottery in exchange for a seat on a state hospital regulatory board.

The case was tried as Siegelman sought the Democratic nomination for governor, and the trial put him in court during the final weeks of the campaign. He lost to Lt. Gov. Lucy Baxley in the June 6 Democratic primary and blamed the charges for his defeat.

Siegelman and Scrushy sat on the edge of their seats but showed no emotion as the verdict was read. The governor's former chief of staff, who was acquitted, bowed his head and nodded "thank you" to the jury.

Prosecutors described a "pay-to-play" scheme in which campaign donations were necessary to participate in government projects.

But defense attorneys said the case was based on the testimony of former Siegelman aide Nick Bailey, lobbyist Lanny Young and toll bridge developer Jim Allen, who they called "scam artists and liars."

Defense attorneys said that Young and Bailey, who have both pleaded guilty, lied on the witness stand in hopes of getting light sentences, and that Allen lied to keep from being charged.

Prosecutors claimed Siegelman and his chief of staff, Paul Hamrick, received gifts, including a Honda motorcycle for the governor that he allegedly tried to conceal from investigators. Hamrick reportedly received $25,000 for a new luxury BMW automobile.

The verdict effectively ended any future political ambitions for Siegelman, a prominent Democrat who was elected secretary of state, attorney general and lieutenant governor before winning the state's top office in 1998.

The trial also came one year after Scrushy was acquitted of criminal charges in a massive accounting fraud scandal at his former company in Birmingham.

The jury returned the verdicts after 11 days of deliberations, convicting both men of bribery, conspiracy and fraud. Siegelman was also convicted of obstruction of justice, but was acquitted on 25 other counts, including racketeering and extortion.

Hamrick and former state transportation director Mack Roberts were acquitted on all charges.

[NormsRevenge]

Former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman listens to a reporter's question, outside the federal building as a jury continues deliberating the federal corruption case against him, former HealthSouth CEO Richard Scrushy, and two others, Wednesday June 28, 2006 in Montgomery, Ala. (AP Photo/Rob Carr)

[NormsRevenge]

Former HealthSouth CEO Richard Scrushy and wife, Leslie, left, leave the federal building as a jury continues deliberating the federal corruption case against him, former Gov. Don Siegelman, and two others, Wednesday June 28, 2006, in Montgomery, Ala. (AP Photo/Rob Carr)

[Suzy Quzy]

A corrupt Democrat....who knew!!

[NormsRevenge]

Prosecutors Steve Feaga, left, and Louis V. Franklin Sr., leave the federal building after the jury in the federal corruption trial against former Gov. Don Siegelman, former HealthSouth CEO Richard Scrushy and two others reported it was deadlocked on a verdict, Thursday, June 22, 2006, in Montgomery, Ala. (AP Photo/Rob Carr)

[6ppc]

The jury took so long to reach a verdict I thought Scrushy had bought himself another juror.

[ncountylee]

Leslie doesn't appear to be Scrushy's first wife.

[D-Chivas]

Culture of..... ahhhhhh, never mind. Move along.... Move On....

[GrandEagle]

I didn't care too much for Siegleman but this seemed like a witch hunt to me.
What is the real story?

[NormsRevenge]

He may be a late bloomer. He has kids, not sure with her or not.

http://www.richardmscrushy.com/biography.aspx

(AP Photo/Rob Carr)

[TrebleRebel]

Hilarious lawsuit from a few years ago where an internet poster accused Scrushy of being a fraudster. Scrushy went after him. Well, OK the guy also did claim to have slept with his wife...

http://www.post-gazette.com/regionstate/19981108cyber5.asp

[TexasTaysor]

Wow, another Dim......and I've been told repeatedly that the Republicans have the "culture of corruption".

[6ppc]

I mostly cared about Scrushy. He somehow managed to walk on the the HealthSouth meltdown case. It was obvious to anyone who knew anything about Scrushy that his "Poor innocent me...I didn't know" defense was BS. I figure the only way he could have gotten off on that case was to buy himself a juror or two.

[jmranchman]

Yes, believe me, this was NO witchhunt....I have lived in the state of AL all of my life....I have followed AL politics all my life and I know alot of people that have served in office from state senators to US Senators and Congressmen....Siegleman is and will always be a shyster....dont know much about Scrushy himself but Don definitely.....he claimed that Bob Riley, current governor, timed this whole thing in order to screw up his own bid to become governor again....the vast majority of people in this state know who Daddy Don really is...

[PJ-Comix]

Culture of corruption! Oops! This involved a Democrat. Never mind.

[GrandEagle]

I remember the Healthsouth Case. I shared your view about Scrushy.
Thanks for your reply, I was just curious about Siegleman. In a way, I felt a bit sorry for him as Gov. When the lottery failed, he was lost. He had no idea what to do next.
Pretty good on 2nd amendment stuff though - a bit different for a Dem.

Cordially,
GE

[GrandEagle]

I've been here a while myself. I hung out in Montgomery quite a bit when Fob was in but didn't keep up with Don too much.

Thanks for your reply.

Cordially,
GE

[FreedomPoster]

Younger trophy wife? She looks awfully happy. Will he (she) still have assets left after the fines and legal fees?

We're going to need some better pics to see if she needs consoling.

[FreedomPoster]

Gee, I was just kidding with my previous post, and then I saw yours. It looks like someone has already travelled that road . . .

[6ppc]

Don't be fooled by the second amendment stuff. Siegleman is a pure and corrupt politician. No politician can win statewide in Alabama unless they appear to be pro-gun so even the democrats pay it lip service. He really doesn't care one way or the other...just takes the position he thinks will get votes.

[franksolich]

A corrupt Democrat....who knew!!

Not being from the south, it took me a while to figure out this story, as the names were unfamiliar to me.

And then I saw this, on the other conservative web-site, "What's missing from this story?"

TN Texan

I am sure if he was a Republican it would have read, "Former Rep. Gov Don Sigelman."

After which this, from Voice of Reason:

Heck no. It'd be something like:

"Republican Don Siegelman, a Republican, was convicted today on seven counts stemming from corruption while serving as Alabama's Republican governor. Republican Siegelman's co-defendant, Richard Scrushy, was convicted alongside the Republican. The Alabama Republican faces up to ten years in prison at the Republican's sentencing next week. The jurors deliberated for three days before convicting the Republican, who is a Republican member of the Republican Party."