Legal News

Ex-state AG says beware of targeting

By Richard Binder

On Tuesday, the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is hearing arguments in the appeal of former Alabama Governor Don Siegelman and Richard Scrushy, former chief executive of HealthSouth Corp., who were convicted two years ago on charges of bribery, conspiracy and mail fraud. Siegelman was sentenced to more than seven years in prison after stating out of court that the federal investigation against him was politically motivated.

Federal prosecutors alleged that Scrushy received a seat on the state's Certificate of Need Review Board in exchange for giving $500,000 to a Siegelman-spearheaded campaign for a state lottery.

Jeffrey Modisett, managing partner of the Los Angeles office of Bryan Cave, who was the attorney general of Indiana from 1996 to 2000, filed an amicus brief earlier this year in the case on behalf of 54 former attorneys general, including himself. He said the case has significant First Amendment implications for politicians, both in what campaign contributions they receive and what statements they make outside of court.

See interview here.

Full post as published by Legal Pad | LA on December 09, 2008 (boomark / email).