Dear Friend,
For the next 107 days, waiting for Don's release, we will travel back in time through the eyes of the media, revisiting the Don Siegelman Case. We take this journey to try to figure out what happened, how it happened, and whether it is happening in your state.
The Calm before the Media Storm
The media – from the mainstream to the alternative – covered the Don Siegelman Prosecution with enthusiasm. However, that coverage did not start in earnest until the summer of 2007 when a republican lawyer blew the whistle on Karl Rove’s involvement in the Siegelman case.
Back in early 2007, that had not happened yet.
Early 2000's
The Kiplinger Letter 3.28.01
The Kiplinger Letter posted: Governor Don Siegelman is the dark horse candidate who could wreck the Republican Southern strategy and emerge as the Democratic nominee IF he wins reelection in 2002.
There were dark forces underground that were determined to keep that from happening.
Local Media: Eddie Curran
In early 2007 the Alabama media was largely sympathetic with the prosecution team in the Siegelman case. Exemplifying this local reporting was Eddie Curran at the Mobile Press Register (reporter ’88 to ’08.) Curran’s pieces began to appear back in ’01, a year after the investigation of Siegelman began in Alabama Attorney General, William Pryor’s, office. Curran wrote to convince readers that Siegelman was criminal, Bob Riley was the ethical candidate, the Siegelman prosecutors were sincere, and U.S. Judge Mark Fuller was honorable.
The negative journalism in the Alabama newspapers impacted Don Siegelman’s career. His previous landslide victory gave way to a neck to neck battle against Republican contender, Bob Riley. Nevertheless, despite little backing from the local press, Siegelman won, albeit with a razor thin victory.
That is, he was declared the winner until a computer glitch gave the race to to Riley. The glitch was discovered after all the poll workers had gone home, and only changed the votes in the Governor’s column. But that is another story.
