Then and now

Does not compute: Back in his Fairfield days, Mayor Langford set up a charity with pals John Katopodis and Richard Scrushy to get computers to kids. Except that tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars went to him, Katopodis and a gay porn star. All of this came out in court as HealthSouth and Katopodis sued each other.

Both sides settled in March without revealing the terms of the deal. Frankly, plenty was revealed already.

Meanwhile, Langford’s latest effort to give computers to kids rolls on, having ordered an additional 14,000 laptops this week without Birmingham school board approval. The technology upgrades could cost millions for a system already struggling to keep facilities open.

More on Larry Langford and John Katopodis.

Keep reading for more updates, plus a scandalous photo of yours truly, after the jump …

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If Alabama hasn’t received enough national media attention lately, the drought is over, friends.

Exhibit A: Don Siegelman freed by “60 Minutes.” The former governor talked with the news magazine about seeing his story and his challenge for Republican operative Karl Rove.

Check out his brief interview from last Sunday’s broadcast …

• Siegelman Future Hinges On Appeal [CBS News]

Exhibit B: How bad is the state’s tax system? PBS news magazine “Now” investigates.

“Now” gets inside the lives of three Alabamian families — each in a different income bracket — to document the impact of regressive tax policies on people’s lives and wallets. The program follows a working mom to a grocery store, showing viewers how a 10 percent sales tax on groceries makes a significant difference in what her family eats.

Viewers travel to the backwoods to meet a couple who have always held jobs but still face hunger. They wonder why the government takes such a big share of the salary they earn. The program also spends time with a well-to-do suburban couple who benefit from a system that gives them huge tax breaks, and we hear their opinion on a tax hike.

The show airs at 8:30 p.m. Friday on APT-10 (a one-time only resurrection from its current time slot, 3:30 a.m. Sundays, banished there by the cowards at Alabama Public Television). Video and podcast will be available next week on the show’s site and on iTunes.
• Alabama Tax Policies [APT]

Exhibit C: As the corruption in Alabama’s two-year college system comes to light, lawmakers are running scared. Many “work” for the system, and are now being hauled before a grand jury to prove they’re not in it just for money. Oh, but think of the children poorly educated not-quite-collegians! (Hat tip to our pal Dave.)
• Fear, Paranoia and, Yes, Some Loathing in Alabama State House [New York Times]

Also:

• Rains bring nearly full capacity for local pollution- and pharmaceutical-tainted lakes
• Council approves mayor’s plan to beat council with pointy sticks
• Ah, spring, when a young man’s fancy turns to— er, fancy? Really?

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More headlines | send us your news tips.

After nine months in prison, Don Siegelman is a free man. Sort of.

The former governor, convicted in 2006 of bribery, mail fraud and conspiracy, will be released from an Oakdale, La., prison camp on bond today as his appeal is considered. Meanwhile, co-convict Richard Scrushy remains locked up, his release denied because of flight risk.

The appeals court says enough substantial questions remain about the conviction to allow the release. Siegelman could end up in Washington, testifying before the House Judiciary Committee. Ironically, he didn’t even take the stand at his own trial.

How bizarre is this legal maze? See the “60 Minutes” report from February and judge for yourself.

• The Birmingham News: Siegelman leaving prison on appeal

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In case you missed the broadcast — and apparently Huntsville and Mobile did — check out the 13-minute report from “60 Minutes.” It uncovers some odd doings behind the conviction of former governor Don Siegelman. Plus, you can watch him rake the yard in the big house.

Karl Rove has denied any involvement, and Alabama Republican Party Chairman Mike Hubbard called Jill Simpson (who named Rove in her CBS interview) a liar.

Lingering questions:

• Did Simpson knowingly omit details in her congressional testimony?
• Why won’t the Justice Department share its files on the case?
• Why did Rove skip testifying before Congress? And why didn’t Congress compel him?
• Did the prosecution’s star witness write out his testimony? If so, why wasn’t it shared with the defense?
• And finally, was Siegelman’s crime bribery, politics as usual, or just being in the enemy party?

• CBS: Did Ex-Alabama Governor Get a Raw Deal?

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More headlines | send us your news tips.

Update: Watch the full report from “60 Minutes” broadcast on Feb. 24.

This time for sure: “60 Minutes” will air its investigation of whether former governor Don Siegelman was targeted by GOP strategist Karl Rove. A main source, Republican attorney and operative Jill Simpson claims she was asked by Rove to photograph Siegelman in a compromising position with an aide (shades of l’affaire McCain). Rove denies any such campaign.

Siegelman’s conviction for bribery has drawn criticism from 52 former states’ attorneys general, hinting that it, too, was the result of more Republican dirty tricks.

Here’s a sneak peek of the story, which airs at 6 p.m. Sunday on CBS 42 (opposite the Oscar lead-in, Barbara Walters):

Bonus video: Reporter Scott Pelley shares inside info, after the jump …

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CBS news magazine “60 Minutes” has been investigating whether White House politics pushed for the prosecution of former governor Don Siegelman. He and HealthSouth founder Richard Scrushy were convicted on charges of conspiracy, bribery and more. Republican operatives with White House ties have been accused of setting up Siegelman, a Democrat. Among those interviewed by CBS is Rep. Artur Davis (D).

The story had originally been scheduled to air in November, but was postponed, stirring up blog rumors galore. It could air at 6 tonight on CBS 42 or within the next few weeks. (The show Web site doesn’t say one way or the other.)

Update: It’s not Feb. 17. Maybe Feb. 24? (Against the Barbara Walters special before the Oscars.)

Update: Yep, Feb. 24.

Update: Watch the full report from “60 Minutes.”
• Hartselle Enquirer: Legislators not happy with Riley’s numbers

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Then and now

D&D, dungeons and dollars: The Dick and Don show has moved to federal prison. After netting about seven years each and hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines, HealthSouth founder Richard Scrushy and former governor Don Siegelman are in custody, awaiting appeal.

Not much left to say, except see you in 2014.

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It’s not the first time Don Siegelman and Richard Scrushy have made Page One of newspapers.

But their sentencing-turned-shackling made for front-page news across Alabama.

Check out the full gallery after the jump.

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The case is just about closed on the two local boys made bad. Former governor Don Siegelman and HealthSouth founder Richard Scrushy were both sentenced to prison and six-figure fines, then immediately taken into custody earlier this evening.

Siegelman, the only Alabama governor with a prison sentence, won’t be free until late 2014 (barring parole). He’ll have to cough up more than $230,000 and perform 500 hours of community service. And don’t forget the three years of probation.

Scrushy, mogul turned evangelist turned con, won’t be out until spring 2014 (barring parole); he’ll have three years probation when out. He must shell out more than $400,000, not counting having to repay the costs of incarceration, which will easily be more than $150,000 if he serves the full term.

The pair racked up all kinds of charges: mail fraud, conspiracy, bribery, obstruction of justice. They were convicted one year ago tomorrow.

Has justice been served? Tell us after the jump. Plus, bloggers’ reactions.

• Birmingham News: Siegelman, Scrushy taken into custody.

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From the penthouse to …: HealthSouth continues its long march to solvency and respectability. A Dallas real estate company will buy its 280 headquarters and giant faux hospital for $60 million from the Birmingham-based health care giant, far less than the $238 million spent on them. The money will go to paying down the company’s $4.2 billion debt, or about 1.4 percent. HealthSouth will remain in its building for a year while seeking new office space within the metro area.

Meanwhile, founder Richard Scrushy and former governor Don Siegelman are a mere 24 days away from sentencing. Federal prosecutors have asked for 25 to 30 years jail time and millions in fines and restitution. Attorneys for the pair have filed for no jail time. Naturally.
• Unused hospital, HQ sold [Birmingham News]

The unholy power of Oprah: Birmingham-based Books-A-Million saw a 40 percent jump in profit between the first quarter of this year and 2006. Was it smart marketing, long-term planning or higher productivity? Or was it the awesome power of daytime TV host Oprah Winfrey? According to the retailer’s president, Oprah’s recommendation of self-help DVD “The Secret” helped boost sales revenues. Yeah, here’s the secret: Save the Oprah, save the world.
• Books-A-Million posts 40 percent increase in profits [Birmingham Business Journal]

Jazz in the field: Moss Rock Preserve (the nature site, not the residential development) will hold an outdoor jazz festival Sunday, featuring Birmingham’s own Eric Essix and Oteil Burbridge as well as headliner Kirk Whalum. The event runs from 3 to 10 p.m., with tickets priced at $24.50. Parking will be at Regions Park (formerly the Hoover Met), with shuttles running to the preserve. [map]
• Preserve Jazz Festival site

Also:

• Citizens asked to conserve water, but ‘go nuts’ with gasoline
• Mayor’s budget funds wacky new neighbor, surprise pregnancy
• Free from schools shackles, teens start summer jobs looting, chilling

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More headlines | send us your news tips.

A last look at the ’06 …

Then and now

Guilty and guiltier: One served as a health care company CEO, the other as governor. Now they share a jail cell — but can these best buds make it in minimum security? The laughs ensue on “The Dick and the Don.”

Richard Scrushy, so confident he’d wriggle out of yet another conviction, bribed preachers and columnists, continued a television ministry and founded another one to feed African children. Don Siegelman, so confident of his campaigning skills with voters and/or jurors, actually ran for the Democratic Party gubernatorial nomination while on trial, losing badly in both races.

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If you thought July was hot, well, you’re right, temperatures were above normal. Um, yeah …
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VESTAVIA HILLS — 27 OCT 2018 — Released earlier today from federal prison, Don Siegelman and Richard Scrushy received a warm welcome from dozens of supporters as they returned to the outside world. Siegelman and Scrushy both completed 12-year prison terms following their 2006 convictions on charges of bribery, conspiracy and fraud.

The pair shook hands with friends and made short statements at the rally, skipping media questions before exiting quietly. The rally featured a marching band and former investors in the men’s careers.

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We can sum up June in four words: City Stages, politics and movies. Not a very exciting summary, but still …
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Guilty: Former governor Don Siegelman, right, was found guilty today on seven counts of bribery, mail fraud and obstruction of justice. Ousted Healthsouth CEO Richard Scrushy, left, was found guilty on all six counts of bribery, conspiracy and mail fraud.

During the 42-day federal trial in Montgomery, Siegelman ran for and lost the Democratic nomination for governor, while Scrushy continued his ministry building through his TV show and plans to feed African children. The jury, seven black members and five white members, spent 11 days deliberating — at one point, deadlocked but charged by U.S. District Judge Mark Fuller to continue.

Also on trial were Siegelman’s chief of staff Paul Hamrick and state highway director Mack Roberts. The jury acquitted Hamrick and Roberts on all charges.

Siegelman served as governor from 1999 to 2003, losing his re-election bid to Bob Riley in a tight race. Siegelman maintained throughout the proceedings that the charges were politically motivated. Scrushy founded sports rehabilitation hospital chain Healthsouth in 1984 and was ousted in 2003. He was acquitted in the $2.7 billion fraud scandal involving the Birmingham-based company in 2005.

Prosecutors said that Siegelman traded favors for gifts and campaign donations and that Scrushy had arranged for $500,000 to be donated to Siegelman’s campaign for a lottery.

Sentencing dates have not been announced. Maximum sentences are five to 20 years, minimum sentence is probation, with home confinement a possibility.

Always a patsy: One of the lesser players in the Healthsouth debacle ended up with eight years in federal prison. Hannibal “Sonny” Crumpler could’ve faced 15 years plus $1.3 million in fines. Contrast that with 15 other execs found guilty who earned probation to five years in prison. Who says there’s no justice for the little guy?
• Ex-HealthSouth exec sentenced [Birmingham News]

Also:

• Martin Luther King Jr.: Don’t put me in the middle of your corruption trial
• So much for the amen corner defense
• Maybe they can room together in prison

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