Posted on 12/13/2005 5:00:27 PM PST by NormsRevenge
MONTGOMERY, Ala. - A federal grand jury on Monday indicted former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman and former HealthSouth Chairman Richard Scrushy on more charges in a political corruption case.
The new indictment accuses Scrushy of paying off Siegelman for a seat on the state health regulatory board, and accuses both men of wielding improper influence over the board.
Siegelman called the latest grand jury action another attempt to destroy his Democratic campaign for governor.
"They are going to try to pull every trick in the book to manipulate the 2006 election," he said Monday.
Federal prosecutors have said repeatedly that no politics are involved. The grand jury has met off and on since June 2004.
Scrushy denied any conspiracy with Siegelman. "The Department of Justice appears to be desperate to make a PR case against me even though there is no substance to any legal charges," Scrushy said in a statement.
In October, the grand jury indicted Siegelman, Scrushy and two former members of Siegelman's cabinet. Federal prosecutors said the charges stemmed from "a widespread racketeering conspiracy" in which state officials traded official actions for money and gifts.
It charged Siegelman with racketeering, bribery, mail and wire fraud, extortion and obstruction of justice. Scrushy was charged with bribery and mail fraud.
The indictment claims Scrushy made "two disguised payments" totaling $500,000 to Siegelman in exchange for Siegelman appointing him to the state's Certificate of Need Review Board, which decides on hospital expansions.
The indictment also accuses Siegelman and Scrushy of making sure that when Scrushy left the board, he was replaced by another HealthSouth employee.
In addition, the indictment alleges that payments of $3,000 and $8,000 were made to board members to advance HealtSouth's interests.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Louis Franklin said he does not expect the grand jury to meet again before its term expires Dec. 21.
This just gets curiouser and curiouser.
Yeah, well, whatever it takes. If this doesn't work, maybe he can be TEBOWED.
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