Alabama: Siegelman and Scrushy ask judge for reversal of convictions
The Birmingham News reports: Former Gov. Don Siegelman and HealthSouth founder Richard Scrushy asked a judge Friday to toss out their convictions, saying federal prosecutors had confused politics with a crime.
Lawyers for Siegelman and Scrushy filed separate motions asking U.S. District Judge Mark Fuller to grant them a judgment of acquittal.
A federal jury in June convicted Scrushy and Siegelman of bribery, conspiracy and mail fraud on charges that Scrushy bribed Siegelman for a seat on a state board by arranging two $250,000 donations to his 1999 lottery campaign. The jury also convicted Siegelman on an additional count of obstruction of justice. ...
"If this conviction is upheld, it means in Alabama anytime you make a contribution politically and later are appointed to any position by the person receiving the contribution, it will be up to prosecutors to decide if they want to indict you," said Terry Butts, one of Scrushy's attorneys. -- Scrushy, Siegelman seek reversal