by D. Cupples | The questionable prosecution of ex-Alabama Governor Don Siegelman is evidence that Congress was right track to investigate the politicization of our Department of Justice. If well-connected operatives could turn the DoJ loose on their well-connected political enemies, how safe are politically outspoken ordinary folks?
MSNBC is actually doing its job re: Siegelman (video below). Reportedly, his trial ended more than 18 months ago, but the court hasn't yet produced a transcript; thus, Siegelman's appeal is delayed. White-collar criminals typically are allowed to avoid prison while waiting for appeal -- Siegelman was sent to prison immediately after trial and is there today.
It couldn't hurt to contact some members of Congress and encourage them to step up the investigation or at least let them know that you support their efforts (email links below).
John Conyers, House Jud: John.Conyers@mail.house.gov
Patrick Leahy, Senate Jud: senator_leahy@leahy.senate.gov
Find your House Member's email here.
Find your Senator's email here
Update: Brad Blog (via Memeorandum) has some interesting details:
"In 2002 he [Siegelman] had won his election, according to the announced results on Election Night, only to wake up the next morning to find that a Republican election director claimed to have discovered a "glitch" (sound familiar, regular BRAD BLOG readers?) in the electronic vote counts overnight, resulting in Siegelman's loss. He was never allowed a recount after the vote tallies somehow changed on the electronic voting machines due to the "glitch," as it was described officially, by court probate officers.
"In this rarely seen, 2004 video interview with Siegelman (see approx. half-way through that linked article), he alleges: 'Somebody electronically manipulated the election results…This election was stolen…There is no other kind, or sugar-coated way to say it.'"
Related BN-Politics Posts:
* MSNBC & 60 Minutes: Interviews of Simpsron re: Siegelman & Rove
* Justice Department: Weapon against Political Enemies?
* How Just is our Justice Department? Ask ex-USA Charlton
* Fired U.S. Attorney Scandal Overview
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