Former AGs seek review of Ala. gov's conviction (Siegelman)

[bemildred]

Source: AP

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — A bipartisan group of 75 former state attorneys general from across the country has asked U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to investigate the prosecution of former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman.

They want Holder to conduct an investigation similar to the one that led the Justice Department to drop its case against former Republican Sen. Ted Stevens of Alaska.

Holder asked a judge to toss out Stevens' corruption conviction because prosecutors withheld evidence from his defense team during the trial.

The attorneys general say in their letter that if similar misconduct is found in the Siegelman case, the once-popular Democrat's corruption conviction should be dismissed. Siegelman was sentenced to more than seven years in prison and is free on bond while he appeals.

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hxRc_QLWLGQTbLRALCm3UTk3WraQD97NN96G0

[chknltl]

1. I just heard this on the radio, good news indeed.

We here in the DU sent our letters to Holder, (and to our representatives as well), regarding this. Perhaps these latest powerful voices will be enough to get this case going, perhaps this will all end with Gov. Don Seigelman vindicated and karl rove behind bars. I still have HOPE.

[bullimiami]

2. the rub is stevens is a dirty crook and siegelman is not. where is the justice?

[ro1942]

3. change you can believe in

what the hell are they waiting on?

[Divine Discontent]

4. this is one of those issues that makes me continue to distrust

all gov't! SEVENTY-FIVE former AG's demanding that Holder review this - what are they waiting on???? When you consider Stevens attention given by Holder's dept., it makes you sick to your stomach...

[Jackpine Radical]

9. If you're into the chess player theory of the Obama administration,

the Stevens action proves that they're non-political, and is the opening move in reversing a lot of bad DOJ shit. Now the 75 come forward with their demand, thereby completing the de-politicization of Holder's actions against his predecessors. The way is now clear for Holder to take on the Siegelman case with no fear of being painted with the political tarbrush.

For the moment, this and the torture scene (in which they're "allowing" themselves to be "forced" into prosecutions of high Bush officials) are putting me back in the Obama-as-chessplayer camp.

Now, if he'll just let himself be "forced" to nationalize the banks, end both stupid wars, and institute a national health care plan, I'll be pretty comfortable with having crawled back into his camp.

[disndat]

11. I am a believer in Chess player Obama

or a football coach who uses the end run strategy around the obstructionists Republicans.

[Divine Discontent]

24. ha! thank you for the response, I agree with ALL you said, esp the crawling back

if he does what we are hoping for.... thrilled we are in agreement on all that. (and for me, the gay rights thing that I wish he'd push the envelope a little on our behalf!)

[Overseas]

5. Glad to hear it !

Maybe it is taking time because there was serious malfeasance in trumping up the case. Serious politicization of the DOJ.

Maybe it is tough to sort out which of the many purely political prosecutions to pursue and how to be sure you have a solid trail of evidence leading to the real instigators.

[katandmoon]

6. Halleluia. Holder will have to really strain to deny THIS request (but I'm not holding my breath)

[Doctor_J]

7. Hartmann says Holder should Siegelman's prosecution over, right now

Apparently it's still going on. Hopefully this is one of the threads that gets woven into death sentences for Rove and as many of his henchmen as possible.

[babsbunny]

8. Thank You Jesus!

Karma is working overtime!

[sonias]

10. I hope Dan gets freed and exonerated from this horrible mess

I thank the former state attorneys trying to clean up a horrible injustice.

Free Don Now!!

:kick:

Sonia

[barbtries]

12. it's about time

holder should be responsive to this. and heads should be rolling in AL

[santamargarita]

13. Exonerate our political prisoner now!

:argh:

[Jefferson23]

14. We have not fogotten you Don, this nightmare for him needs to end now.

[MasonJar]

15. The fact that the judge not only had him taken out of couit to jail, but put in leg

irons is proof enough. He was also sorely mistreated in prison. This is taking too long to resolve. It is unfair to this innocent man to keep him in jeopardy like this. Also the man that he allegedly bribed is in prison also for no reason and needs to be released. Thanks to the bipartisan attorneys-general for their continued assiduity in staying on top of this case. They have previously made their views known, helping Seigelman get released for his appeal.

[Kingofalldems]

16. Repub(s) posing as Democrats won't like this

That is all I can say.

[Dinger]

17. KNR!

:)

[McCamy Taylor]

18. Ah, the sweet sound of public sentiment. If there is a mandate, they will do it.

[troubleinwinter]

19. Gee whiz! Conyers ("John Letter") has been 'all over this' for a year and a half.

http://speaker.house.gov/blog/?p=833

Yippee.

[troubleinwinter]

20. With Dem Judiciary Committee leadership like this, who the fuck needs republicans?

[defendandprotect]

21. Siegelman case needs a whole new great big push !!!

[Kaleko]

22. Don will be vindicated soon. But I suspect that his case is tied to

bringing down Rove and several others at the same time as well. His ordeal is not as easy to sort through as the Steven's case. It's a terribly convoluted, politically explosive mess.

[Lindsey]

23. As soon as Stephens was aquitted, my sis said that this will

open the door for President Obama to really check out everything that's gone on with the DOJ and that includes Seiglemen (? sp.). I love hearing him being referred to as a "Chess Player." IMHO that's what he's doing. He's five moves ahead of everyone else and his strategy moving forward is in-tact.

[SlingBlade]

25. This should have been FIRST for reconsideration

What is taking so long here ?