Siegelman wants speedy trial

MONTGOMERY -- Former Gov. Don Siegelman said Wednesday he wants a speedy trial on his second federal grand jury.

"I want it as fast as possible,'' Siegelman said in a phone interview. He was asked whether he wants a trial -- if there is one -- before the June 6 Democratic gubernatorial primary.

Siegelman and Lt. Gov. Lucy Baxley are candidates for governor in the Democratic primary.

Siegelman and former HealthSouth Chairman Richard Scrushy were indicted by a federal grand jury in Montgomery.

The indictments were sealed and replaced on Oct. 26 along with indictments of two others, Siegelman's state Transportation Director Mack Roberts and Siegelman aide Paul Hamrick.

The Oct. 26 indictment accuses Siegelman of seeking $100,000 from businessman Jimmy Allen, who built a toll bridge over the Black Warrior River in Tuscaloosa. In exchange, Allen was to receive favorable state transportation department treatment to protect his $20 million toll bridge investments.

The indictment states that Siegelman got $40,000 from Allen to "facilitate Jimmy Lynn Allen's business interests.''

Siegelman was asked if he got $40,000 from Allen.

"I don't know anything about that and probably can't discuss those kinds of specifics,'' he said. "The allegations they made are false, bogus, wrong and they are

being done to control the outcome of the 2006 election.''

All four have pleaded innocent in court.

The indictment shows that more than $53 million in state transportation money going to the Tuscaloosa County Commission between 1999 and 2001 for various road projects.

The indictment does not make clear which road projects were funded and DOT officials couldn't immediately determine which ones received money.

Allen's toll road benefited from multimillion connector and bypass roads in western Tuscaloosa.

Siegelman had promised road money for Tuscaloosa County in exchange for Moundville state Sen. Phil Poole's crucial vote to strip Republican Lt. Gov. Steve Windom of all Senate power in 1999 when Siegelman became governor.

Allen also built toll bridges connecting Montgomery County with suburb counties and he had a financial interest in a road striping company, RainLine. Siegelman is also accused of promising to protect that company, the indictment states.

Roberts worked for Allen during the Gov. Fob James administration and came back as highway director under Siegelman in January 1999.

Allen couldn't be reached for comment.

Siegelman questioned the timing of the Tuscaloosa road project allegations.

"The Jim Allen stuff, why did they wait six years ... to bring these charges?'' Siegelman asked. "These allegations will come apart just like the other ones in Tuscaloosa came apart.''

Siegelman was referring to a May 27, 2004, indictment by a Birmingham federal grand jury. Those charges stemmed from Medicaid baby delivery service business involving Tuscaloosa physician Phillip Bobo during Siegelman's term from 1999-2003.

Bobo and Hamrick were indicted, too, but a federal judge's ruling led prosecutors to drop the charges against Siegelman and Hamrick during an October trial. Bobo was not tried.

Bobo previously was indicted in 2001 on Medicaid fraud charges and convicted, but his conviction was overturned on appeal because of a faulty indictment.

The Oct. 26 indictment accused Siegelman of also getting $500,000 from Scrushy, whom Siegelman had appointed to a state board that authorizes hospital and medical projects.

Siegelman said it's a "lie'' that he got $500,000 from Scrushy, who was acquitted in federal court earlier this of charges involving his company in Birmingham.

"HealthSouth supported a campaign for a lottery, but (prosecutors) have written this thing to do the greatest amount of political damage possible,'' Siegelman said.

"The last time I checked, contributions to people's campaigns are not illegal,'' Siegelman said. "I don't see these bureaucrats trying to indict George Bush ... who has appointed people who contributed to him.''

University of Alabama political science professor Bill Stewart said any indictment is serious in voter's eyes.

"Even though people are regarded as innocent, potential voters aren't bound by those rules, and they can draw their own conclusions from an indictment and don't have to give benefit of the doubt,'' Stewart said.

Dana Beyerle can be reached at (334) 264-6605 or dtb12345@aol.com.