Probe sought on ex-governor's prosecution
Published: July 17, 2007 at 7:50 AM
WASHINGTON, July 17 (UPI) -- The U.S. Congress has been petitioned by 44 former state attorneys to investigate whether the prosecution of a former Alabama governor was political.
Former Gov. Don Siegelman, a Democrat, was sentenced to seven years in prison last month on charges of accepting bribes from an Alabama hospital executive while he was in office from 1999 to 2003.
The former attorneys general wrote the House of Representatives and Senate judiciary committees saying the Justice Department's prosecution of Siegelman merited investigation, The Los Angeles Times reported.
"We urge the Congress to take immediate action to investigate this entire matter so that the public may be assured that the outcome is just," their letter said.
While the majority of the attorneys who cosigned the letter are Democrats, several are Republicans, the report said.
Siegelman and his supporters claimed his prosecution was politically motivated, with links to White House political strategist Karl Rove, the Times said.
Former Gov. Don Siegelman, a Democrat, was sentenced to seven years in prison last month on charges of accepting bribes from an Alabama hospital executive while he was in office from 1999 to 2003.
The former attorneys general wrote the House of Representatives and Senate judiciary committees saying the Justice Department's prosecution of Siegelman merited investigation, The Los Angeles Times reported.
"We urge the Congress to take immediate action to investigate this entire matter so that the public may be assured that the outcome is just," their letter said.
While the majority of the attorneys who cosigned the letter are Democrats, several are Republicans, the report said.
Siegelman and his supporters claimed his prosecution was politically motivated, with links to White House political strategist Karl Rove, the Times said.
© 2007 United Press International. All Rights Reserved.
This material may not be reproduced, redistributed, or manipulated in any form.
This material may not be reproduced, redistributed, or manipulated in any form.
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