Hundreds write, ask for leniency for Siegelman

MONTGOMERY -- Letters from former Gov. Don Siegelman's two children are among hundreds sent to a federal judge to request leniency during Siegelman's sentencing.

Dana Siegelman and Joseph Siegelman asked U.S. District Judge Mark E. Fuller for mercy when sentencing Siegelman on last year's felony bribery conviction.

Also due for sentencing is co-defendant Richard Scrushy. Scrushy is the former chairman of HealthSouth Corp.

In a letter with two family photographs of Siegelman in happier times, Dana Siegelman wrote, "Please know that my dad is not a criminal. On the contrary, he is one of the most loving and generous people I know.''

Sentencing for the pair begins today in federal court. Prosecutors, who say Siegelman and Scrushy broke the public trust, want 30 years in prison for Siegelman and 25 years for Scrushy along with millions of dollars in fines.

Neither Scrushy nor Siegelman testified at their trials and both proclaimed their innocence.

Fuller released stacks of letters written to him and to the U.S. Probation Office about the Scrushy and Siegelman sentencing, with 99 percent of them favorable to the pair.

Scrushy's letters were in one small accordion file while hundreds and hundreds of letters written on Siegelman's behalf filled six expanded files.

Siegelman, in e-mails, newspaper advertisements, and in personal requests, asked anyone whose life may have been touched by him to tell Fuller.

"The letter just needs to be from the heart and tell the judge how I have made a positive impact on your life, or the life of someone you know or how I made a positive difference for the people of Alabama,'' Siegelman said.

Fuller appeared to have read each one, as evidenced by his initialing of the letters.

Jane Smith, of Tuscaloosa, said in an interview Monday that Siegelman asked her to write but she said neither she nor anyone else was required to answer his plea.

Smith said she's known Siegelman, 61, since he was active in University of Alabama student politics and she in the national alumni association.

She said she is disturbed by her belief that Siegelman was prosecuted by partisan Republican U.S. attorneys on charges that state elected officials seemingly do every day -- appoint cronies and campaign contributors to positions.

Siegelman was accused of appointing Scrushy to a hospital equipment and program regulatory board after arranging for Scrushy to contribute $500,000 to Siegelman's 1999 education lottery campaign.

Smith said Gov. Bob Riley recently appointed a defeated state senator, Gerald Dial, who had supported him, to a state position involving rural development but no one's investigating that.

Many who wrote had been members of Siegelman's administration from 1999-2003. Virtually all told stories of Siegelman's service and his dedication to the "little man.''

Some expressed skepticism of the guilty verdict. Two wanted the book thrown at him.

Even Siegelman's karate instructor wrote. "I firmly believe Don Siegelman is a compassionate and pure-hearted man,'' wrote Saiko Shihan Y. Oyama.

Florence attorney Frank V. Potts said political appointments "should'' be made to friends and supporters. "Judge Fuller, please give Governor Siegelman the lightest sentence possible and allow him to remain with his good wife and children,'' Potts wrote.

Florence attorney Bob Hill also wrote. "I don't know of any governor that appoints people to important positions that has not contributed to the governor,'' Hill said in a Monday interview.

Colbert County education association representative Emmett Jimmar, who also serves on the Colbert County Commission, said he disagrees with the verdict and has known Siegelman to be an honorable man.

Ministers wrote in support of Scrushy, who created a ministry during his legal troubles.

Troy University Chancellor Jack Hawkins said Scrushy, a former Troy board of trustee member, was known for his good works.

Mobile sporting figure Danny Sheridan said the "Bush White House'' was part of the Siegelman prosecution history and Republican Fuller should put aside politics and only give Siegelman home confinement and a long probation.

Siegelman's daughter is in her early 20s, and his son in his late teens.

"Losing him will ruin my life, and I have a promising one ahead of me,'' Joseph Siegelman wrote Fuller earlier this spring. "Your honor, we are at your mercy.''

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