Democracy Now: Supreme Court Orders New Hearing in Siegelman Case

The Supreme Court has ordered a lower court to re-consider an appeal from former Alabama Governor Don Siegelman in his quest to overturn his conviction. Siegelman was found guilty in a 2006 corruption case but is free on bail pending an appeal. Critics say Siegelman was the target of a political witch hunt, in part orchestrated by former Bush administration deputy Karl Rove. On Tuesday, the Supreme Court ordered the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta to revisit its decision upholding five of the seven charges against Siegelman. The Supreme Court cited its ruling last week in favor former Enron CEO Jeffrey Skilling that threw out a law criminalizing the denial “of the intangible right of honest services.”

~ by wheresthemic on June 30, 2010.