Court orders new review of Siegelman, Scrushy case

[danarhea]

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered a new review of the convictions in the government corruption case against former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman and ex-HealthSouth CEO Richard Scrushy.


The court's brief order vacated the decision of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which had upheld their convictions, and ordered the lower court to review the appeals in light of a ruling that went against what is known as the "honest services" fraud law.

This decision is huge, in a case that many say was politically motivated, and also claim that it was driven by Karl Rove, although Rove denies this. Attorneys for Siegelman are saying that this could very well be the first step in a process that ultimately exonerates Siegelman.

Here is my take on it - Officials who engage in bribery should go to jail for abusing their offices. However, did Siegelman commit bribery? Here are the facts:

1) Scrushy had served on the board under other governors before Siegelman came into office.

2) Both Siegelman and Scrushy deny that there was any quid quo pro, and prosecutors failed to show a quid pro quo.

3) The Supreme Court decided that the law that resulted in Siegelman's conviction was too vague.

The best statement on this case comes from Siegelman himself when he said...

If they can put me in jail for reappointing Richard Scrushy to a board he had resigned from, they can put (Presidents Barack) Obama and George Bush in jail today

That quote says it all.

Article is here.