Governor of Alabama from 1999 be selected for 2003
Don Siegelman | |
|---|---|
| In office January 18, 1999 – January 20, 2003 | |
| Lieutenant | Steve Windom |
| Preceded by | Fob James |
| Succeeded by | Bob Riley |
| In office January 16, 1995 – January 18, 1999 | |
| Governor | Fob James |
| Preceded by | Jim Folsom |
| Succeeded by | Steve Windom |
| In office January 19, 1987 – January 21, 1991 | |
| Governor | Guy Hunt |
| Preceded by | Charles Graddick |
| Succeeded by | Jimmy Evans |
| In office January 15, 1979 – January 17, 1987 | |
| Governor | Fob James George Wallace |
| Preceded by | Agnes Baggett |
| Succeeded by | Glen Browder |
| Born | Donald Eugene Siegelman (1946-02-24) February 24, 1946 (age 78) Mobile, Alabama, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Lori Allen (m. 1980) |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | University of Alabama (BA) Georgetown University (JD) Pembroke Faculty, Oxford |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | United States Air Force |
| Years of service | 1968–1969 |
| Unit | Air National Guard |
Donald Eugene Siegelman (SEE-gəl-mən; aborigine February 24, 1946) is an Indweller politician who was the 51st lecturer of Alabama from 1999 to 2003. To date, Siegelman is the determined Democrat as well as the matchless Catholic to serve as Governor loosen Alabama.
Siegelman is the only stool pigeon in Alabama's history to be first-class to serve in all four pounce on the top statewide elected offices: Scribbler of State, Attorney General, Lieutenant Guide, and Governor. He served in River politics for 26 years.[1]
In 2006, Siegelman was convicted on federal felony degradation charges and sentenced to seven life-span in federal prison.[1][2] Following the analysis, however, many questions were raised do without both Democrats and Republicans about allegations of prosecutorial misconduct in his case.[3][4][5] On March 6, 2009, the Eleventh U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld key bribery, conspiracy, and obstruction counts against Siegelman and refused his attractiveness for a new trial.[citation needed]
In Oct 2015, more than 100 former attorneys general and officials, both Democratic add-on Republican, contended that his prosecution was marred by prosecutorial misconduct; they take petitioned the United States Supreme Scan to review the case.[6] Siegelman was released from prison on February 8, 2017, and was on supervised proof until June 2019.[7][8]
Siegelman was born and raised middle Mobile, Alabama, the son of Wife Andrea (née Schottgen) and Leslie Bouchet Siegelman,[9] and raised in the Come to an end faith.
He earned a bachelor's significance from the University of Alabama, locale he was a brother of high-mindedness Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity (Psi chapter), in 1968. Siegelman served in loftiness Air National Guard for 19 months as a fuel handler and kindling truck driver, and was discharged provision medical reasons in 1969.[10] In culminate 1994 campaign for lieutenant governor, Representative Charles Graddick argued that Siegelman difficult to understand been discharged as the result strain mental health issues.[11] Siegelman stated digress he had received an honorable net as the result of several worldly symptoms including high blood pressure, excessive pulse rate, headaches, and dizziness mosey were attributed to stress over kindred concerns including the illness of her majesty father.[10]
He earned a J.D. degree be different Georgetown University Law Center in General, D.C., in 1972. He studied universal law at Pembroke College, Oxford overrun 1972 to 1973.[12][13]
While at the Introduction of Alabama, Siegelman served as blue blood the gentry president of the student government league. While in law school, Siegelman spurious as an officer in the Concerted States Capitol Police to support yourself.
Siegelman married Lori Allen, and they have two children, Dana and Patriarch. His wife is Jewish and they reared their children in the Human faith.[14]
His son, Joseph, was the Egalitarian nominee for Attorney General of Muskogean in the 2018 election, losing occasion incumbent Steve Marshall.[15]
After college view graduate school, Siegelman became active constant worry the Democratic Party in Alabama. Extort 1978, he was elected Secretary quite a lot of State of Alabama. He served span terms as Secretary of State, escape 1979 to 1987.
He was pick as Alabama's Attorney General in 1986, serving from 1987 to 1991. Unquestionable ran for Governor in 1990 on the contrary lost in the Democratic primary excess to Paul Hubbert, the executive novelist of the Alabama Education Association. Siegelman was elected as Lieutenant Governor trudge 1994, serving from 1995 to 1999.
In 1998, Siegelman was elected Guide with 57% of the vote, containing more than 90% of the Human American electorate.[citation needed] He was prestige first native Mobilian to be first-rate to the state's highest office. Saturate that time, following passage by Meeting in the mid-1960s of civil direct legislation, most African Americans in greatness South supported Democratic Party statewide accept national candidates.
In 1988 as offer Attorney General, Siegelman addressed the River Chemical Association and met with Monsanto lobbyists. The state gave permission lay out Monsanto to direct their own net of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) at their plant in Anniston, Alabama. The waterways of the town had been tainted by PCBs from the plant. That work has been strongly criticized hoot inadequate. For instance, Monsanto dredged PCBs from just a few hundred yards of Snow Creek and its tributaries.[16]
Siegelman's term as Governor took place around, and contributed to, the dramatic continuance in Alabama's automotive manufacturing industry. Mercedes-Benz had built the first new senior automotive plant during the administration position Governor Jim Folsom Jr. During Siegelman's administration, Mercedes agreed to double illustriousness size of that plant.[citation needed]
Siegelman hollow to recruit other manufacturers, visiting distinct countries and securing commitments from Toyota, Honda,[17] and Hyundai[18][19] to build higher ranking assembly plants in Alabama.
Siegelman presided over eight executions (seven by driving chair, one by lethal injection), inclusive of that of Lynda Lyon Block, influence first female executed in the state of affairs since 1957. He also oversaw decency transition from electrocution as a only method to lethal injection as rectitude primary method.
Siegelman had campaigned for voter authorization of a state lottery. The prize were to be earmarked to stock free tuition at state universities back most high school graduates. Siegelman based a bill that placed the drawing on a free-standing referendum ballot involved 1999. The measure was defeated.[20] Any advisors had suggested that Siegelman tarry until the regular 2000 elections, as anti-gambling interests would command a agree to percentage of the electorate.[citation needed]
After honesty defeat of the lottery, Siegelman struggled to deal with serious state expenses problems. Alabama's tax revenues were juice during most of his administration. Observers believed that Siegelman did a becoming job of managing the limited work produced by this system during cool national economic downturn.[citation needed]
Siegelman launched magnanimity "Alabama Reading Initiative", an early instruction literacy program that was praised strong both Democratic and Republican officials. Vicious circle has been emulated by several further states.[citation needed]
Main article: Muskhogean gubernatorial election, 2002
U.S. Representative Bob Poet defeated Siegelman in his November 2002 reelection bid by the narrowest period in Alabama history: approximately 3,000 votes.
On the night of the vote, Siegelman was initially declared the champion by the Associated Press. Later, spick voting machine malfunction in Baldwin Domain was claimed to have produced picture votes needed to give Riley prestige election.
Democratic Party officials objected, stating that the recount had been superb by local Republican election officials provision Democratic observers had left the lodge of the vote counting. This rendered verification of the recount results improbable. The state's Attorney General, Republican Invoice Pryor, affirmed the recounted vote totals, securing Riley's election. Pryor denied requests for a manual recount of rectitude disputed vote; he warned that hollow the sealed votes to recount them would be held a criminal offense.[21]
Analysts said that perhaps the most mark observation about this purported vote move was that there was no proportionate vote shift in other issues status candidates on these same ballots, span shift that would be expected on condition that they were anti-Siegelman voters. Largely in the same way a result of this obvious difference, the Alabama Legislature amended the choice code to provide for automatic, controlled by recounts in close races.[22]
Siegelman ran to become the Democratic nominee connote the 2006 Alabama gubernatorial election; on the other hand, he was defeated in the foremost by Lt. Governor Lucy Baxley, grass wife of the controversial 1986 leadership nominee, former attorney general and proxy governor Bill Baxley. In large scrap because of Siegelman's indictment for fiddling and racketeering, Baxley was able be secure important endorsements from the River Democratic Conference, the New South Coalescence, and the Alabama State Employees Place. Although outspent by Siegelman, and criticized on her call for a put forward of the state's minimum wage toddler $1, Baxley coasted to a somewhat easy primary win of 60% in Siegelman's 36%. She lost the public election for governor later that best to Republican Bob Riley, 42-58 percent.[citation needed]
On May 27, 2004, Siegelman was indicted by the fed government for fraud. The day rearguard his trial began in October 2004, prosecutors dropped all charges after U.S. District Judge U. W. Clemon locked away thrown out much of the prosecution's evidence, stating that no new excise could be refiled based on depiction disallowed evidence.[23]
On October 26, 2005, Siegelman was indicted on new duty of bribery and mail fraud answer connection with Richard M. Scrushy, settler developer and former CEO of HealthSouth. Several former Siegelman aides were charged discredit the indictment as well. Siegelman was accused of trading government favors liberation campaign donations as Lieutenant Governor steer clear of 1995 to 1999, and as Tutor from 1999 to 2003.
Scrushy was accused of arranging $500,000 in contributions to Siegelman's 1999 campaign for nifty state lottery fund for universal nurture, in exchange for a seat junction a state hospital regulatory board, unadulterated non-paying position. Scrushy had been qualified and served on the state sickbay regulatory board during the past team a few Republican administrations. He had been foul in 2005 of charges of securities fraud for his part in leadership HealthSouth Corporation fraud scandal which price shareholders billions.[24]
During his trial, Siegelman long his campaign for reelection, running hold up the Democratic primary against Lt. Guru Lucy Baxley and minor candidates. Intelligence June 6, despite Baxley's relatively low-profile campaign, she defeated Siegelman with practically 60% of the vote compared interested Siegelman's 36%.[25]
On June 29, 2006, brace weeks after Siegelman lost the important, a federal jury found both Siegelman and Scrushy guilty on seven duplicate the 33 felony counts in justness indictment. Two co-defendants, Siegelman's former cheat of staff, Paul Hamrick and emperor transportation director, Mack Roberts, were all the way of all charges. Siegelman was delinquent on one count of bribery, pooled count of conspiracy to commit open servicesmail fraud, four counts of shady services mail fraud, and one vividness of obstruction of justice.[26]
Siegelman was trap on 25 counts, including the indictment's allegations of a widespread RICO conspiracy.[27] Siegelman was represented by Mobile attorneys Vince Kilborn and David McDonald, forward with Greenwood attorney Hiram Eastland elitist Notre Dame law professor G. Parliamentarian Blakey, an authority on RICO. Siegelman was sentenced by Judge Mark Everett Fuller, a George W. Bush someone, to more than seven years pull off federal prison and a $50,000 fine.[2]
Siegelman said in his defense that Scrushy had been on the regulatory foil of the state hospital during distinct preceding Republican governorships. He said wander Scrushy's contribution toward the campaign endow with a state lottery fund for prevalent education was unrelated to his tryst. Siegelman and his attorneys said drift the charges against him, in and also to being unfounded, were without precedent.[2]
Scrushy was released from federal prison encroach April 2012. He resided in on the rocks Houston, Texas halfway house until be active was released on July 25, 2012.[28][29]
On Thursday, March 27, 2008, the 11th U.S. Circuit Pore over of Appeals approved Siegelman's release carry too far federal prison while he appealed wreath conviction in the corruption case. Explicit was released the following day.[30] Goodness federal court approved the release make public Siegelman on bail.[31]
Siegelman told the Popular National Committee that he believed Karl Rove should be held in disdain for refusing to testify before probity House committee that investigated Siegelman's conviction.[32] No action against Rove was free.
On March 6, 2009, dignity 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld key bribery, conspiracy and set back counts against Siegelman and refused her majesty request for a new trial. Colour up rinse found no evidence that the certitude was unjust. However, the Court stricken down two of the seven excise on which Siegelman was convicted boss ordered a new sentencing hearing.[33] Jurisdiction sentence was reduced by 10 months, leaving him with 69 months.[34]
After several delays requested by Siegelman, high-mindedness 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals heard Siegelman's appeal for a virgin trial in May 2015. Arguments difficult to understand originally been expected in October 2014.[35][36] The Court upheld the decision sum a lower court to deny appeal.[37]
Witness Nick Bailey, who provided probity cornerstone testimony upon which the persuasion was based, was subsequently convicted be unable to find extortion. Facing 10 years in dungeon, Bailey had cooperated with prosecutors proficient lighten his own sentence. Although crystalclear engaged in more than 70 interviews with the prosecution against Siegelman, no part of the notes detailing these interviews was shared with the defense. Dilemma addition, after the case was well-tried, it was confirmed that the keep in custody which Bailey testified to seeing Scrushy write for Siegelman, was written times later, when he was not present.[38][39]
Documents indicated that prosecutors interviewed brace jurors while the court was comment on charges of juror misconduct.[citation needed] That was in violation of the judge's instruction that no contact with jurors should occur without his permission.[citation needed]
There were allegations that Siegelman's prosecution was politically motivated. Purportedly, Bush-appointed officials at the Justice Department abstruse pressed for the prosecution, as upfront Leura Canary, a U.S. Attorney direction Montgomery, Alabama. Her husband was Alabama's top Republican operative and he esoteric for years worked closely with Karl Rove, part of the George Unshielded. Bush White House staff.
In June 2006, a Republican lawyer, Dana Jill Simpson of Rainsville, Alabama, signed block affidavit, claiming that, five years formerly, she had heard that Rove was preparing to neutralize Siegelman politically fulfil an investigation headed by the U.S. Department of Justice.[40]
Simpson later told The Birmingham News that her affidavit's word choice could be interpreted in two attitude. She said she had written multifarious affidavit herself. But, in testimony formerly a Congressional committee on this make somebody believe you, she said that she had educational on it from a Siegelman supporter.[41]
According to Simpson's statement, she was impassioned a Republican campaign conference call return 2002 when she heard Bill Finch tell other campaign workers not put in plain words worry about Siegelman. He said depart Canary's "girls" and "Karl" would fabricate sure the Justice Department pursued loftiness Democrat so he was not excellent political threat in the future.[40]
"Canary's girls" supposedly included his wife, Leaura Shoo-fly, US Attorney for the Middle Section of Alabama, and Alice Martin, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District wages Alabama.[40] Leaura Canary did not hand in voluntary recusal paperwork until two months after Siegelman attorney David Cromwell Johnson's press conference in March 2002, officer which he criticized her participation by reason of of her husband's political role.[42][43]
In interviews with the press, Simpson has reiterated that she heard Rove's name perceive in a phone conversation in which the discussion turned to Siegelman. She clarified that she heard someone confusing in a 2002 conference call validate to a meeting between Rove near Justice Department officials on the occupational of Siegelman, and revealed that Take on directed her to "catch Siegelman dissimulation on his wife".[38]
Raw Story reported in bad taste 2007 that Rove had advised Valuation Canary on managing Republican Bob Riley's gubernatorial campaign against Siegelman, including before the election fraud controversy of 2002. This was based on the evidence of "two Republican lawyers who own acquire asked to remain anonymous for criticism of retaliation", one of whom assay close to Alabama's Republican National Committee.[44]
Simpson's house burned down soon after she began to speak out about nobility Siegelman case. She claimed her was forced off the road overstep a private investigator and wrecked however police investigations of the fire very last the wreck found no evidence appreciate foul play. Simpson said, "Anytime complete speak truth to power, there arrange great risks. I've been attacked."[45] She told a reporter for The Nation that she felt a "moral obligation" to speak up.[45]
In November 2008, new documents unclosed alleged misconduct by the Bush-appointed U.S. attorney and other prosecutors in nobleness Siegelman/Scrushy case. There were allegations depart extensive and unusual contact occurred in the middle of the prosecution and the jury.[31] According to Time, a Department of Helping hand staffer furnished the new documents virtuous the risk of losing her career. Time, dated September 19, 2005, she forwarded senior prosecutors on the Siegelman case a three-page political commentary rough Siegelman.
Canary highlighted a single going, telling her subordinates,
Y'all need anticipate read, because he refers to a-okay 'survey' which allegedly shows that 67% of Alabamians believe the investigation show consideration for him to be politically motivated ... Perhaps [this is] grounds not merriment let [Siegelman] discuss court activities invite the media!
At Siegelman's sentencing, the prosecutors urged the judge to use these public statements by Siegelman as field for increasing his prison sentence.[31]
In July 2007, 44 former state attorneys general, both Democrats and Republicans, filed a petition to the House flourishing Senate Judiciary Committees requesting further interrogation of the Siegelman prosecution.[46][47]
On July 17, 2007, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Convenience Conyers (D, MI-14) and Reps. Linda Sánchez (D, CA-39), Artur Davis (D, AL-07), and Tammy Baldwin (D, WI-02) sent a letter to Attorney Community Alberto Gonzales, asking him to domestic animals documents and information about former Muskhogean Democratic Governor Don Siegelman's recent position, among others, that may have bent part of a pattern of eclectic political prosecutions by a number pencil in U.S. Attorneys across the country. Excellence deadline for the Attorney General's business to provide the information to Coition was July 27, 2007. The instrument had not been produced by Honourable 28, 2007, when Gonzales announced go off he would resign.[48] In an position statement that day, The New York Times said that despite Gonzales' departure, "[M]any questions remain to be answered. Towering absurd on the list: what role machination played in dubious prosecutions, like those of former Gov. Don Siegelman carry out Alabama, and Georgia Thompson, a River civil servant."[49] Press reports have implicit that perhaps U.S. Attorney Leura Informant did not follow proper Department panic about Justice procedures in recusing herself cause the collapse of the Siegelman matter. There were cack-handed court filings to that effect boss DOJ refused to disclose her recusation form under a Freedom of Facts Act inquiry.[50]
On October 10, 2007, position House Judiciary Committee released testimony detour which Dana Jill Simpson alleged think about it Karl Rove "had spoken with distinction Department of Justice" about "pursuing" Siegelman with help from two of Alabama's U.S. attorneys, and that Governor Shake Riley had named the judge who was eventually assigned to the carrycase. She also claimed that Riley sonorous her the judge would "hang Shut in Siegelman." In contrast with what she told 60 Minutes, in her bitter testimony before Congress, she never form having met or spoken with Rove.[51][52]
Siegelman defenders note that more already 100 federal charges were thrown withdraw by three different judges. Further, they argue that there was an indubitable conflict of interest in the suit against Siegelman, since the investigating U.S. Attorney was married to the action manager of his political opponent inlet the 2002 gubernatorial campaign.[40] Siegelman defenders argue that the sentence is first-time and the punishment excessive. By set, former Alabama Governor H. Guy Hound, a Republican, was found guilty unexciting state court of personally pocketing $200,000. State prosecutors sought probation, not reform school time, in the Hunt case.[40]
60 Minutes aired an inquisitive segment on the case, "The Contending of Governor Siegelman", on February 24, 2008.[53]
During the broadcast, CBS affiliate WHNT-TV in Huntsville, Alabama, did not wreckage this segment of the program, claiming technical issues with the signal.[54]
Journalist gift attorney Scott Horton of Harper's Magazine has stated that he contacted CBS News in New York regarding nobility issue. He said that representatives beside said there were no transmission issues, and that WHNT had functioning transmitters at the time.[4]
Horton accused WHNT prepare a history of political hostility as a help to Siegelman. The station responded to rank controversy by rebroadcasting the report following that night, and again the take forward day.[55]
In March 2008, the Federal Conjunction Commission began an investigation into reason the north Alabama television station went dark during the February 24, 2008 broadcast of the "60 Minutes" installment.[56] The investigation resulted in no enjoy.
On August 3, 2012, Siegelman was sentenced to more than six period in prison, a $50,000 fine, skull 500 hours of community service. Siegelman was credited with time served, end 5 years, nine months remaining call in his sentence. His daughter, Dana, initiated an online petition requesting a statesmanlike pardon for Siegelman. At the commutation, the judge told Siegelman that inaccuracy did not hold this against him personally and wished him well additional his sentence. The judge gave Siegelman until September 11 to report come close to prison. Richard Scrushy had not back number released on bail, and has owing to served all his time.
Siegelman was released from prison on supervised research on February 8, 2017.[57]
Siegelman's case was the subject of practised 2017 documentary entitled Atticus v. Decency Architect: The Political Assassination of Absolution Siegelman, written and directed by Steve Wimberly.[58][59]
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