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The Scrushy Squeeze

Former Gov. Don Siegelman describes how a common practice of federal prosecutors was used against him:

In an effort to get me, the prosecution went to [co-defendant Richard] Scrushy before they indicted him and said, "Just tell us Siegelman extorted the money; just tell us he twisted your arm." He said, "I can't do that because that's not what happened." They went to him after he was indicted and said, "Okay, we will give you another chance. Tell us Siegelman twisted your arm and tried to extort money." He said, "I can't say that because that's not what happened." During the trial, he was sitting at the defense table, and they came and got him again and gave him a third chance to throw me under the bus by lying for the prosecution and he wouldn't do it. This is not the way the justice system in this country is supposed to work.

Maybe not, but welcome to the real world, where in many respects the criminal justice system doesn't work as it should.

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  • Display: Sort:
    Just ask (5.00 / 1) (#1)
    by BernieO on Sat Dec 27, 2008 at 03:43:53 PM EST
    Susan McDougal

    That was really obscene (none / 0) (#3)
    by ThatOneVoter on Sat Dec 27, 2008 at 07:29:29 PM EST
    I remember how they had her in  shackles for court appearancees.

    Parent
    The temptation to do so (none / 0) (#2)
    by McKinless on Sat Dec 27, 2008 at 04:18:31 PM EST
    must have been intense for Scrushy. And had he, then Siegelman would be in a much tougher place trying to convince the world of his innocence.

    My opinion of Scrushy just went up a few notches.

    ironic (none / 0) (#4)
    by txpublicdefender on Sun Dec 28, 2008 at 02:23:06 PM EST
    That's a nice extortion scheme the prosecutors had going there.