|
|
Tags for This Article:
Bush Admin (1887) Republican (1721) Bush Crimes (1341) Justice (1217) Bush Enemy Of Democracy (1044) Judiciary (259) Alabama (168) Politicization (106) Double Standards (90) Biofuels (39)
|
Add to My Group
Don Siegelman, former Democratic governor of Alabama, is out of federal prison while he fights his conviction on corruption-related charges. At the heart of the Siegelman case was a charge that he received a campaign contribution from a supporter and then took actions that benefited that supporter. As Siegelman's case works its way through the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, it is becoming more and more clear that a contribution of this sort does not constitute federal-funds bribery and the case never should have been prosecuted. But here is what's most striking about the aftermath of the Siegelman case: His successor, Republican Bob Riley, took a campaign contribution from a supporter and then helped steer millions of state dollars toward that contributor--resulting in a new biotechnology center in Huntsville, Alabama. This transaction took place even though Alabama already has a vibrant biotech infrastructure at UAB and Southern Research Institute in Birmingham. Representatives from the Huntsville biotech center recently traveled with Riley to Brazil to examine processes used there to turn sugar cane into biofuels. Evidently they plan to take knowledge picked up in Brazil and return to Alabama to make bucket fulls of cash. Are Riley's supporters benefiting from their contribution to his campaign? Sure looks like it. Is the "deal" involving Siegelman substantially different from the "deal" involving Riley? Not that we can see. Does the Bush Justice Department, which was so eager to go after Siegelman and supporter Richard Scrushy, show any signs of going after Riley and the Huntsville biotech crowd? Not on your life. In real life, that's called a double standard. In terms of justice, it's called selective prosecution. And that's why the U.S. House Judiciary Committee needs to keep a close eye on Alabama as it investigates the politicization of the Justice Department under George W. Bush.
www.legalschnauzer.blogspot.com I live in Birmingham, Alabama, and work in higher education. I became interested in justice-related issues after experiencing gross judicial corruption in Alabama state courts. This corruption has a strong political component. The corrupt judges are all Republicans, and the attorney who filed a fraudulent lawsuit against me has strong family ties to the Alabama Republican Party, with indirect connections to national figures such as Karl Rove. In fact, a number of Republican operatives who have played a central role in the prosecution of former Alabama Governor Don Siegelman (a Democrat) also have connections to my case. I am married, with no kids and two Siamese cats. I am the author of the blog Legal Schnauzer. The blog is written in honor of Murphy, our miniature schnauzer (1993-2004)who did so much to help my wife and me survive our nightmarish experience with corrupt judges. I grew up in Springfield, Missouri, and I am pretty much a lifelong St. Louis Cardinal baseball fan. I've lived in Birmingham for almost 30 years and have adopted the UAB Blazers as my Southern college football and basketball team to follow. Also, follow East Tennessee State basketball. An avid reader, both fiction and non-fiction. Influential writers on public affairs are Kevin Phillips, Michael Lind, Thomas Edsall, E.J. Dionne, Molly Ivins, and Scott Horton.
Copyright © OpEdNews, 2002-2008 |
|
