United States Attorney Leura G. Canary Middle District of Alabama

DOJ STATEMENT TO CBS/“60 MINUTES”
REGARDING CASE OF UNITED STATES v. SIEGELMAN

On about January 18, 2008, the U.S. Department of Justice provided the following statement to CBS regarding the case of United States v. Don Siegelman, et al. In a 60 Minutes segment that aired February 24, 2008, CBS elected to publish portions of two sentences of the Department’s statement. The Department’s January 18 statement to CBS is reproduced in its entirety below:

“This case was brought by career prosecutors – following the May 2002 recusal of the U. S. Attorney [Leura G. Canary] – based upon the law and the evidence alone. After considering that evidence – which is a matter of public record – a jury of Mr. Siegelman’s peers found him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of federal funds bribery, conspiracy to commit mail fraud, honest services mail fraud, and obstruction of justice.

“In response to his conviction, Mr. Siegelman now claims that he was targeted for partisan reasons. He can raise that claim with the court, the only forum that can provide him any relief. He has chosen, however, not to do so. Instead, he and his attorneys have made their meritless allegations to the media and Congress. This case is currently pending in the appellate court, the forum where the Department of Justice will continue to litigate this matter based upon the evidence and the law.”

* * *

In the February 24, 2008, segment, 60 Minutes insinuated that prosecutors improperly withheld notes allegedly made by Nick Bailey from defense counsel. This is yet another example of an allegation in this case that is not before a court. If Mr. Siegelman chooses to bring this – or any other matter – before a court, the Department will respond appropriately.