Acting United States Attorney Louis V. Franklin, Sr. Middle District of Alabama

STATEMENT BY BRIAN J. ROEHRKASSE, DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS, REGARDING HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE'S REQUEST REGARDING FORMER ALABAMA GOV. SIEGELMAN

In response to the House Judiciary Committee's request to release former Alabama Governor Don Siegelman from prison in order to testify before Congress, Brian J. Roehrkasse, Director of Public Affairs, U.S. Department of Justice, issued the following statement:

"We are reviewing this request. As we've said previously, this case was brought by career prosecutors – following the May 2002 recusal of the U.S. Attorney – 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.

With respect to the appellate court's bond opinion today, we are reviewing that decision. Because Mr. Seigelman's conviction remains pending before the appeals court, the Department of Justice will continue to litigate this matter in the courts and not the media or Congress."