Conyers releases Simpson transcript on Siegelman case-Rove linked

Chairman Conyers Releases Jill Simpson Transcript on the Prosecution of former Alabama Governor Siegelman
October 10th, 2007 by Jesse Lee

Rove Linked to Alabama Case
Adam Zagorin, Time Magazine - October 10, 2007

A Republican lawyer claims she was told that Karl Rove — while serving as President Bush’s top political advisor — had intervened in the Justice Department’s prosecution of Alabama’s most prominent Democrat. Longtime Alabama GOP activist Dana Jill Simpson first made the allegation in June, but has now provided new details in a lengthy sworn statement to the House Judiciary Committee. The Committee is expected to hold public hearings on the Alabama case next week as part of its investigation of possible political interference by the Bush Administration in the activities of the Department of Justice.

Today, Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers released the transcript from the sworn testimony of Dana Jill Simpson, the Alabama attorney who earlier this year executed an affadavit that has stirred renewed interest in the prosecution and subsequent conviction of former Alabama governor Don Siegelman. In the affadavit and the closed-door interview with committee staff, she cites conversations that allege Karl Rove’s involvement in the decision to prosecute Siegelman. The issue is expected to be covered during an upcoming joint subcommittee hearing titled, “Allegations of Selective Prosecution: The Erosion of Public Confidence in Our Federal Justice System.”

Transcript at link:

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

:kick:

he certainly went over the top in helping to put this country in the mess it is in today. I bet he is a millionaire many many times over. And how in the S.O.B. hell did he get all that he has on the $165,000, a year paid (excessively I might add) on his US salary.

From the link:

Ms. Simpson described a 2005 conversation with Rob Riley in which Mr. Riley stated that, in late 2004, Karl Rove had contacted the Public Integrity Section of the Department of Justice to press for further prosecution of Don Siegelman, and had also stated that the case would be assigned to a federal judge who “hated” Mr. Siegelman and who would “hang Don Siegelman.”
(snip)

* Ms. Simpson testified that she is a lifelong Republican, who has worked on political campaigns for Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush, Judge Roy Moore of Alabama, and Governor Bob Riley of Alabama, among others. (7-11)
(snip)

This is outstanding news. Thank you very much.

Plame didn't out herself.

Please let justice reveal the truth, for once.

So... I will not hold my breath.

The country believes us not her, I really hope her speaker of the house role is limited to this session of congress only.

Ms. Simpson,...thank you!!! Thank you so much for being honest.

I'd say she needs protection... and that is because Rove and Company went too far in 'framing' a political opponent.

I doubt she thought of herself as a co-conspirator Republican when she heard the comments she reported.

Honesty is what lets you sleep at night ... unless someone burns down your house first.

Just a coincidence? :scared:

DAMN THAT!!!!!!

When the corruption reaches the level it is at with this Administration, there is no room at all for anyone who is not willing to be a co-conspirator.

She worked in every Repub Presidential Campaign since Reagan, so there is no question she is indeed a partisan Repub.

I just think she could not live with the fact that an innocent man could be framed and spend a long stretch in prison knowing she had the information which could free him.

Of course this is why Karl Rove has always advocated that there is no room for a conscience in this business. It just gets in the way of results.

Her car was taken and totaled and her house burned down, I'd say she needs protection.
.
http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/003519.php
.
As always it isn't always the crime that gets you it's the COVER UP.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1982675

with links back to others before.

THANK YOU, Speaker Pelosi. From The Gavel:

2. Ms. Simpson described a 2005 conversation with Rob Riley in which Mr. Riley stated that, in late 2004, Karl Rove had contacted the Public Integrity Section of the Department of Justice to press for further prosecution of Don Siegelman, and had also stated that the case would be assigned to a federal judge who “hated” Mr. Siegelman and who would “hang Don Siegelman.” (50-57) According to Ms. Simpson, Mr. Riley stated:

* that the case against Don Siegelman in the Northern District had been “miserably messed up” by United States Attorney Alice Martin and had been dismissed by a federal Judge in 2004 (48-50);

* that, with that case out of the way, Mr. Siegelman was “the biggest threat” to Governor Bob Riley – Rob Riley’s father – in the coming 2006 Governor’s race (48);

* that, in late 2004, Bill Canary and Governor Riley had spoken to Karl Rove about Mr. Siegelman and that Rove had approached the head of the Public Integrity section of the Department about bringing another case against Mr. Siegelman and giving more resources to the prosecution (50-52);

* that the new case against Mr. Siegelman would be brought in the Middle District of Alabama and would be assigned to Chief Judge Mark Fuller, whom Rob Riley knew from college (50-53);

* that “Fuller would hang Don Siegelman” because he believed Mr. Siegelman had caused Fuller to be audited in a former position which had exposed some questionable financial dealings by Fuller (56-57); and

* that Mr. Siegelman would be indicted on charges related to Richard Scrushy because Mr. Scrushy was very unpopular and it would be useful to link the two men together. (84-85, 106).

FROM: http://www.speaker.gov/blog/?p=833

TRANSCRIPT AT: http://www.speaker.gov/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/jillsimpsoninterviewwithexhibits.pdf

sure sounds like they deliberately persecuted him for political expediency.

:-)

:kick:

"Ms. Simpson testified that she is a lifelong Republican, who has worked on political campaigns for Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush, Judge Roy Moore of Alabama, and Governor Bob Riley of Alabama, among others."

"ahhh a Lincoln Republican-so rare these days of koolaid and roses."

Rove Linked to Alabama Case
Wed Oct. 10, 2007 By ADAM ZAGORIN
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1669990,00.html


A Republican lawyer claims she was told that Karl Rove — while serving as President Bush's top political adviser — had intervened in the Justice Department's prosecution of Alabama�s most prominent Democrat. Longtime Alabama G.O.P. activist Dana Jill Simpson first made the allegation in June, but has now provided new details in a lengthy sworn statement to the House Judiciary Committee. The Committee is expected to hold public hearings on the Alabama case next week as part of its investigation of possible political interference by the Bush Administration in the activities of the Department of Justice.

....

If Simpson's version of events is accurate, it would show direct political involvement by the White House in federal prosecutions — a charge leveled by Administration critics in connection with the U.S. attorney scandal that led to the resignation of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. But her account is disputed; those who she alleges told her about Rove's involvement during a G.O.P. campaign conference call claim that no such conversation took place. Rove himself has not responded to Simpson's allegations, which are clearly based on second-hand information, and the White House has refused to comment while Siegelman's case remains on appeal.

Still, the Judiciary Committee plans to air Simpson's testimony as part of its probe into political involvement in federal prosecutions. ........

Siegelman Prosecutor: Money Laundering Isn't a Crime
By Laura McGann - Oct 8, 2007
http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/004405.php

Responding to a Time story published last week which paints a murky picture of the lead-up to the prosecution of former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman (D), Alabama Assistant US Attorney Steve Feaga tried to minimize secret testimony the magazine unearthed.

According to sensitive documents (http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/004374.php) obtained by Time's Adam Zagorin, the Siegelman corruption investigation was sparked by statements made to federal agents by state lobbyist Lanny Young. The documents also revealed that the same lobbyist implicated two other powerful Alabama political figures in bribery schemes, both Republicans--Sen. Jeff Sessions and Session's successor as attorney general, William Pryor, who is now a federal judge--but no effort to investigate those claims was ever initiated.

Feaga, the prosecutor on Siegelman's case explained (http://www.nbc15online.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=52079fc8-89e4-4881-9650-bb948a4c05f9) that Young's testimony was only relevant in Siegelman's case -- and not in the cases of the two Republicans -- because: "At the time Lanny was detailing having made contributions to other public officials, he characterized these contributions as legitimate. There was no understanding he would get something for them."

And what were these legitimate contributions? From Time: ............

much deserved attention. Hopefully, by the end of this process, we'll all know what the US Attorneys who "WEREN'T" fired were willing to do to keep their jobs? This case stinks to high heaven, and I wonder what Bush would do if we were to bombard the WH with requests for the same leniency he showed to Scooter Libby?

let's get that sombitch!

:kick:

It's sad but true!

Where do these hearings ever lead anyway? We need a real criminal investigation.

If only the leadership had the gumption that this man has.

Thanks for this post babylonsister :yourock:

:kick:

But this is much better. Recommended for all to read! Rove's list of transgressions just goes on and on!

I'm off to read now. Plus this needs a kick.

BTW, you can track the Committee here, and a whole lot more too!

before he has a chance to fuck with 2008 elections