Montgomery, Ala. – The corruption trial of former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman opened Monday with prosecutors accusing him of scheming with his chief of staff to obtain bribes for state help, including assistance allegedly sought by then-HealthSouth chief executive Richard Scrushy.
Siegelman’s lawyer countered that the federal case was built on the lies of unbelievable witnesses who have pleaded guilty in the case and are hoping for lenient sentences.
“The government is going to have to call a bunch of liars, a bunch of con artists, a bunch of thieves,” said attorney Vince Kilborn.
The trial is going on as Siegelman, a Democrat, campaigns for another term as governor.
Chief federal prosecutor Louis Franklin spelled out the government’s wide-ranging bribery and conspiracy case, which includes racketeering and obstruction of justice charges against Siegelman and former chief of staff Paul Hamrick, counts of bribery and mail fraud against Scrushy, and charges of wire and mail fraud against former state transportation director Mack Roberts.
The government intends to prove Siegelman traded state contracts, appointments and favors from his office for cash, gifts and campaign contributions – including $500,000 arranged by Scrushy for Siegelman’s campaign to create a state lottery, Franklin said.
Franklin said Scrushy, after backing Siegelman’s opponent in the 1998 race won by Siegelman, had to scramble to get into the new governor’s good graces so he could stay on a state board that oversees hospital development.
“He had to bribe our governor,” said Franklin.
Siegelman’s attorney insisted Siegelman did nothing wrong.
The government’s witnesses are trying “to save their own skin by … telling you things that are not true,” he said.
