Lawyer stands by White House accusation

MONTGOMERY -- The lawyer whose affidavit accusing White House involvement in former Gov. Don Siegelman's prosecution responded Friday to government doubts about her story.

In an email, Rainsville lawyer Jill Simpson said she's willing to testify under oath about what she believes was behind the Siegelman prosecution.

"I am looking forward to raising my hand to God under oath and to testify to these matters recently revealed,'' Simpson wrote.

Simpson may get the chance because four members of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee have asked federal prosecutors in Montgomery to give the committee information about the Siegelman prosecution, ostensibly in preparation for a congressional hearing.

Federal prosecutors said the committee's request is based on false and misleading national news reports that did not give a full accounting of Simpson's allegations, which they have-discounted.

The Judiciary Committee has not scheduled a hearing and members haven't talked to anyone about the case, a spokeswoman said.

Committee member Rep. Artur Davis, D-Ala., and Chairman Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., along with two other members, gave the U.S. Attorney's Office in Montgomery until July 27 to respond to the request.

Simpson frequently communicates by email. She couldn't be reached for further comment Friday.

Simpson, in a May affidavit, said she was involved in a November 2002 telephone call where Republicans said they could force prosecution of Siegelman, a Democrat, in order to remove him as a political threat.

Specifically, Simpson reported that Siegelman was to be told of a political dirty trick involving a Ku Klux Klan rally in Scottsboro in the hopes that he would drop the challenge of his November election loss to Republican Bob Riley.

Siegelman said he dropped the challenge because he believed he couldn't win in court.

In the affidavit, Simpson also said telephone call participants mentioned who she believed to be White House adviser Karl Rove was pushing the Siegelman prosecution.

Simpson said the husband of Republican U.S. Attorney Leura Garrett Canary and Riley's son were part of the alleged conspiracy. Participants deny the conversation took place.

She said she disclosed her involvement because she has a duty as an attorney to reveal unethical and illegal behavior.

"I assume that all of the others involved in this horrible travesty of justice, including Mrs. Canary and (Siegelman prosecutor Louis) Franklin, will be willing to do the same,'' she said.

Franklin had no comment, spokeswoman Retta Goss said.

In 2006, Siegelman was convicted along with former HealthSouth CEO Richard Scrushy on federal bribery and conspiracy-related charges.

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