Siegelman Case in the Spotlight

Lots of news today related to the prosecution of former Alabama Governor Don Siegelman:

Simpson and 60 Minutes
Glynn Wilson, at Locust Fork World News & Journal, reports that 60 Minutes has interviewed Alabama attorney Dana Jill Simpson about her role in exposing the political nature of the Siegelman prosecution. Federal prison officials evidently are refusing to allow an on-camera interview with Siegelman. One wonders if Leura Canary will go on camera to explain her "recusal" and her refusal to turn over documents to Congress.

Sacking Sessions?
The Alabama Democratic Party says U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL) should recuse himself from any investigation into the Siegelman case and possible selective prosecution by the Bush Justice Department. The Democrats' statement comes in the wake of Time magazine's revelations that Alabama developer Lanny Young, a key witness in the Siegelman prosecution, made illegal contributions to Sessions and fellow Alabama Republican Bill Pryor. Here is Glynn Wilson's take on the story.

Going Around Fuller
Siegelman's attorneys have filed a response to U.S. District Judge Mark Fuller's ruling denying Siegelman's release from federal prison pending appeal. The response alleges that Fuller failed to act according to instructions from the Eleventh Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals. Here is Glynn Wilson's take, along with the complete Siegelman response.

What Money Laundering?
Laura McGann, of TPM Muckraker, has this incredulous take on the response of Siegelman prosecutors to Time's revelations about illegal contributions to prominent Republicans. The allegations, if proven true, would amount to money laundering, according to Time. McGann notes the "see-no-evil" approach federal prosecutors seem to be taking to possible wrongdoing by Republicans.