Don Siegelman held in solitary for calling Thom Hartmann radio show, not a crime.

[martigras]

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by mcar (a host of the Latest Breaking News forum).

Source: Associated Press



Read more: http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2015/12/former_al

---

Former Governor Don Siegelman, a political prisoner of Karl Rove's, is being held in solitary confinement for the past 8 weeks for calling into Thom Hartmann's radio show. This is not a crime. Please consider contacting the President and urging him to grant clemency to the former governor. It is a travesty that this poor man is still in prison, much less solitary confinement because of Rove. Let's see if we can't get him home for Christmas!

[MariaThinks]

1. Why is Siegelman still in prison?

[brush]

2. If the details of the case ever get out Rove and all his henchmen and women . . .

who helped him railroad Siegelman to jail will go to jail themselves.

I wish Obama had already pardoned him but I think it's coming.

[persuadable]

24. Background please

Who is Siegelman? What did they say he did? Who is they? Thank you.

[brush]

36. A former Dem governor of red state Alabama who was targeted by Rove during the Bush admin . . .

so he wouldn't get re-elected.

Of all the egregious instances of misconduct by the Bush administration's Department of Justice -- its ruthless pursuit of voting rights cases and government corruption cases against Democrats and firing U.S. attorneys who resisted -- no case epitomizes the abusive, vindictive, and politically-driven agenda as much as the prosecution of Don Siegelman. In 2002, Siegelman, a Democrat, was governor of the blood-red state of Alabama and was predicted to win re-election. But according to sworn and strongly-corroborated testimony before the House Judiciary Committee, Alabama's top Republican operative Bill Canary contacted Karl Rove and instigated the Justice Department's prosecution of Siegelman. Rove contacted the Public Integrity Section, and Canary declared confidentially that "his girls would take care of Siegelman." When asked who "his girls" were, Canary replied Alice Martin, the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama, and Leura Canary, the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama. Leura Canary, by the way, is Bill Canary's wife.

The rest of this story is at this link:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bennett-l-gershman/cruel-justice-the-case-of_b_5434216.html

This is a web site for his defense:
http://donsiegelman.net/

[Freddie Stubbs]

41. It seems that the details are out

Its just that people don't believe them.

[forest444]

5. Welcome to DU, Maria!

And yes: the Don Siegelman case has become an international embarrassment, and is usually mentioned by foreign leaders whenever one of our ambassadors abroad brings up a particular political prisoner.

The time is long past due (indeed, he should have never been in jail in the first place).

Again, welcome to DU. Happy posting!

[MariaThinks]

9. Thank you.

[cstanleytech]

10. Because he hasnt finished serving his sentence or atleast thats usually why

and for Siegelman I think thats not due to happen until around 2017 unless of course Obama decides to grant him clemency so he gets out a bit early.

[PatrickforO]

11. That's what I asked. He was sentenced to 6.5 years clear back in 07.

He should have been out at the beginning of 2014 latest. But now they have him in there until 2017. I don't get that.

[cstanleytech]

17. Thats because he was sentenced to more time back in 2012.

http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/former-alabama-governor-don-siegelman-re-sentenced-bribery-conspiracy-fraud-and-obstruction

[Lochloosa]

29. This link will give you all of the background.

http://www.donsiegelman.org/

[Freddie Stubbs]

38. Because President Obama is obviously in on the Rove/Bush conspiracy

[TheMastersNemesis]

3. Why Won't Obama Pardon Him? Did He Make A Deal With Those Alabama Crooks.

[tularetom]

6. Makes you wonder doesn't it?

Siegelman has been in prison for most of Obama's term and all we've heard from the president is...crickets. I guess we can only conclude that either he knows something about the case that nobody else has heard, or as you suggest, some slimy deal was made.

[yurbud]

7. if there was something worse he did, repubs would have let everyone know

[yurbud]

8. not even a deal. Rove worked for the masters and you don't become

The master's favorite dog by shooting his current favorite.

You do it by being even more loyal, obedient, and effective.

[cstanleytech]

15. Well one reason could be because he doesnt want to give the Republicans any ammo to use against the

Democrats before an election especially since the Republicans are so focused on their own internal problems right now like Trump which is creating an almost civil war like environment within the party.
The other reason could be because Siegelman might not have exhausted all of the legal options he can pursue that do not require the Presidents involvement.

[Doctor_J]

39. reaching across the aisle

Or not wanting to seem like an angry black man. Or saving his political capital for something else. Or some other ridiculous excuse. Epic disaster

[Freddie Stubbs]

42. Perhaps President Obama does not believe that he is innocent

[randome]

48. No! Come on, it can't be that!

[hr][font color="blue"][center]The truth doesn’t always set you free.
Sometimes it builds a bigger cage around the one you’re already in.[/center][/font][hr]

[Tarheel_Dem]

47. The same reason he probably won't pardon Rod Blagojevich? Not everything is political.

[Judi Lynn]

4. My God. How is it this filthy maneuver against Gov. Siegelman hasn't been terminated?

Karl Rove must see this as his finest achievement, among his many atrocities.

[PatrickforO]

14. I'd like to see Rove brought up on war crimes charges. He and that whole immoral crew.

[cstanleytech]

16. I would like to see that as well but for that to happen there would have to be some pretty

solid evidence to warrant charges to be filed and if such evidence exists they have probably buried it so deep that it wont see the light of day for atleast a hundred years if ever.

[erronis]

20. And then there would have to be true justice in the american way

We've let pure sleazeballs walk free and make zillion$ off their crimes and then punished some unfortunates and petty criminals as if they have to pay for the sins of us all. Humanity - love it or leave it.

[PatrickforO]

43. That's only because we won.

Everyone knows winners write the history out of whole cloth.

[WillyT]

12. K & R !!!

:,ad:

[blackspade]

13. 8 Weeks?

That is abuse. And bullshit.

Our prison system is a sham.

[Renew Deal]

18. How much time does he has left?

[red dog 1]

45. He's set for release in August 2017

According to the OP article

[MynameisBlarney]

19. The fact that this man is still in a cell

Is truly shameful.

[SoapBox]

21. This whole thing is criminal.

Land of the Free and the Brave...my ass.

[turbinetree]

22. The president has the means the ..............................

discretion to do something about this "stuff"

He is in his last term, they any right wing hack can jump up and down until they turn red in the face, and let's not forget that one Karl Rove and others from this criminal organization called Bush and lap dogs, committed a crime when they outed a CIA operative--------------that in my opinion deserves solitary confinement in Lakewood Colorado super max


http://www.criminaldefenselawyer.com/resources/presidential-clemency-pardons-commutations-and-reprie


I have just gone to the Whitehouse.gov web site and asked what is he going to do about this "stuff"




Honk-------------------------for a political revolution Bernie 2016

[gregcrawford]

23. Siegelman was railroaded on fabricated evidence...

... in a scheme orchestrated by "Turdblossom" Rove. That malignant waste of skin is the one who should be in solitary for the rest of his evil life.

Read Bush's Brain for some insight into just what a vile excuse for a human being Rove really is. He is not content to simply win, he has to grind an opponent into the ground before he's satisfied. I hope I live long enough to piss on his grave.

The fact that Obama didn't pardon Siegelman on his first day in office is despicable in itself. He knows full well that Siegelman committed no crime. This entire sordid episode speaks to just what utterly rotten people Republicans are.

[Duval]

25. I remember signing more than one petition to get him out of prison a while back!

It was a gross miscarriage of justice then!! I'll be glad to contact the President by email. If he gets enough, maybe he'll have time to pay attention. Thanks, martigras. This is very important. I just don't understand WHY calling Thom Hartmann put him where he is.

[JDPriestly]

26. I went to WhiteHouse.gov and sent a message asking President Obama to release

Don Siegelman before Christmas.

This is a shameful series of events that will go down in the history books.

By the way, while I was asking that President Obama release Don Siegelman for Christmas -- grant him clemency that is -- I also wished the Obamas a wonderful Christmas.

Christmas regardless of your religion is the time of year that we in America celebrate family. It commemorates the birth of a baby, and we join together as families to celebrate our love for each other and the reminder that is a part of the Christian religion but applies to all people, that love is what moves us to joy, to patience, to action, to caring for each other.

So it is appropriate that President Obama, remembering the joy he will have being quietly with his family around the Christmas tree exchanging gifts that express love, grant clemency to Don Siegelman and hopefully also to others who are wrongfully or unnecessarily separated from their families in this season.

Clemency for Don Siegelman.

It's way past time.

[Duval]

34. Thanks, JD! I'm going to the website now.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

27. This outrage proves he is a political prisoner.

[xocet]

28. The OP's link does not work. Here is a link to the story....

Former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman held in solitary in prison, son says
By Associated Press on December 10, 2015 at 4:33 PM, updated December 10, 2015 at 9:13 PM

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman was placed in solitary in the federal prison where he's serving time on corruption charges after calling a talk show and repeating his claims of innocence, his son said Thursday.

Siegelman phoned a liberal talk show on Oct. 15 to discuss his allegations that he's a Democratic political prisoner wrongly prosecuted by Republicans. A recording of the segment is available online.

He also talked about U.S. District Judge Mark Fuller, who presided at Siegelman's trial but has since resigned after being arrested on a spousal abuse charge, and told listeners inmates are limited to 15 minutes on the phone.

...

Officials at the Oakdale prison in western Louisiana didn't return a message seeking comment, and Siegelman said officials haven't explained why his father is in solitary.

...

http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2015/12/former_alabama_gov_don_siegelm_2.html

[anniebelle]

30. How about a pardon for this man!!!!!!!

This is one of things that just bugs the hell out of me about our President. First, he was willing to kick his pastor to the curb, then several of his close advisors, pardons that crook Ted Stevens from Alaska and just ignores his own party. Don't get me wrong, most things I agree with that Obama has done, but he's really let me down on far more than he's lifted me up.

[optimist.spencer]

31. That is just pathetic!

[bvar22]

32. What pisses me off the MOST is the fact that...

...the very first thing on Eric Holder's To Do List after Obama appointed him Attorney General was to get that corrupt piece of Republican crap, Ted Stevens (Alaska), out of jail and his record cleaned.
.
.
.
.
...but Don Siegelman???
Never heard of him, and we don't take his calls.


I get the feeling that Don Siegelman knows too much.

[Freddie Stubbs]

40. That was because there we prosecutorial misconduct in that case

[Gregorian]

33. I think our judicial system, and political system, are perverted.

Bush is sauntering around with a paint brush, and Rove is free after snubbing Congress.

What the fuck, America?

[Live and Learn]

37. +10,000 nt

[Uncle Joe]

35. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, martigras.

[KoKo]

44. K&R!

[starroute]

46. This is a lot like them taking Barrett Brown's email away

It's almost as if they were afraid of political prisoners communicating with the news media...

http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2015/04/barrett-brown-suddenly-stripped-of-prison-e-mail-after-talking-to-press/

Barrett Brown suddenly stripped of prison e-mail after talking to press
Activist writes arbitrary punishment is part of "pattern of state retaliation."

Barrett Brown, the brash journalist and former member of Anonymous who was sentenced in January 2015 to over five years in federal prison, had his e-mail privileges suddenly revoked, seemingly for corresponding with journalists.

On Sunday, Brown’s supporters published his account of the punishment, describing how he suddenly lost access to his prison-supplied e-mail account on March 31. In the ensuing days, Brown attempted to contact various prison officials to get further information, including someone named “Trust Fund Manager Coleman.”


https://theintercept.com/2015/12/02/barrett-brown-the-government-explains-why-it-took-my-email/

I’ll get around to describing life in a gang-dominated medium security federal prison by and by, but right now it’s time for another update on this exciting game I’ve been playing with the BOP whereby I try to get them to restore the public email access they took from me back in March while they try to come up with some plausible explanation for this that doesn’t entail admitting that prison employees committed a crime in doing so. I’m afraid we’re both losing.

Shortly before my last visit to the hole, the warden’s executive assistant Jerry McKinney finally brought me this response to the complaint I’d filed months ago (and which, though allegedly from the warden, was actually composed by his official designee McKinney, as is common practice). It’s a splendid example of BOP style, in which the only portions that are free from grammatical errors are those that have been lifted from bureau policy manuals. Altogether it constitutes its own world, one that challenges our basic assumptions at every turn. A memorandum from 2010 “provide supplemental guidance,” while the Trust/Fund Deposit Form Manual “state” certain things; it is as if one’s soul is being addressed after death by the Ascended Masters, for whom time and plurality have no meaning. The Ascended Masters also seem to have trouble with semicolons.

Speaking of timelessness, here we have the Platonic ideal of the federal functionary sentence, with its inappropriate commas and astonishing misuse of common terms like “on behalf”: “Specifically, you state you were denied messaging access without explanation by staff, for contacting a journalist about wrongdoing on behalf of Bureau of Prisons staff.” But this will forever be my favorite federal moronism: “This policy also states Pending Investigation or Disciplinary Actions for TRULINCS Abuse or Misuse.” What he means is that there exists a section of the relevant policy statement with that title. That is what he means by that.

[mcar]

49. Locking

Violates the Statement of Purpose for Latest Breaking News:

Post the latest news from reputable mainstream news websites and blogs. Important news of national interest only. No analysis or opinion pieces. No duplicates. News stories must have been published within the last 12 hours. Use the published title of the story as the title of the discussion thread.

Suggest reposting in General Discussion.