Siegelman to Karl Rove: not buying explanation

Questions about whether former White House political maestro Karl Rove encouraged the indictment of Don Siegelman, a popular former Democratic governor of Alabama whose corruption conviction is on appeal, linger even after Rove sent a letter that seemed to be an unequivocal denial.

As C2C (Countdown to Crawford) reported Wednesday, Rove sent an unsigned letter to the ranking Republican on the House Judiciary Committee, Lamar Smith of Texas, denying any involvement in Siegelman's case. In the  letter, forwarded to the committee by his attorney, Rove said:

I have never communicated, either directly or indirectly, with Justice Department or Alabama officials about the investigation, indictment, potential prosecution, prosecution, conviction or sentencing of Gov. Siegelman, or about any other matter related to his case, nor have I asked any other individual to communicate about these matters on my behalf. I have never attempted, either directly or indirectly, to influence these matters.

But Siegelman, in a subsequent e-mail to Times staffer Tom Hamburger on Thursday, wrote that Rove still has some answering to do -- and he called on the former White House strategist to do so under oath.  He particularly questioned whether Rove talked about the case with Bill Canary, a Republican whose wife is the U.S. attorney in Montgomery, Ala. That office indicted Siegelman -- though Canary recused herself from the case. In the e-mail, Siegelman wrote:

Rove refused to deny that he had plotted with the US Attorney's husband, Bill Canary, to get his wife to further the joint state/federal investigation which was started by Rove's client, the Alabama attorney general.

Karl Rove built his career in Alabama working with Bill Canary. Rove's client started investigating me in 1999 right after I endorsed Al Gore.  Then the wife of Rove's associate, Laura Canary, accelerated the case federally in 2001, she indicted me during the 2006 campaign, and she brought me to trial less than four weeks before the election. There is sworn testimony that Bill Canary said that he had it worked out with Karl to destroy me, and that two Alabama US Attorneys would do the job.  Both those US Attorneys did in fact indict me.  And now, Rove refuses to deny that he talked to Bill Canary about prosecuting me. They sent me to prison on less evidence than this.”

After hearing from Siegelman, C2C contacted Rove’s attorney, Robert Luskin, who waved away the still-persistent questions saying that the written denial to the committee was meant to be sweeping and complete. He denied that Rove sought to influence the case by speaking to Canary -- or anyone else.

Luskin said the written denial of Rove’s involvement applied not only to communications with Justice Department or other government officials but “was clearly intended to include the use of any intermediary or middleman. That includes Bill Canary, or any other human being on Earth.”

-- Tom Hamburger and Johanna Neuman

Photo: Jennifer Simonson/Associated Press

Comments

[Cora Roever]

Who is Karl Rove and why does he have so much power? He can only commit the crimes he has because he is supported by others.

[Neo]

I think that it is time for the Canary to sing under oath before the House Committee investigating this matter

[Millie]

Tell the House Judiciary Committee to hold Rove in contempt. Sign the petition and tell your friends. No one is above the law, not even Republicans the party of law and order.

http://sendkarlrovetojail.com

[mike turner]

Rove hide email from Patrick Fitzgerald...and got away with it.

What kind of INVESTIGATION ignores potential evidence?

Moreover what kind of investigation allows a potential felon to "change" sworn testimony five times?

Rove used RNC email.....separate from his White House email which clearly should have been examined by Fitzgerald.
Odd that the email of millions of innocent Americans has been data mined.....
but not a man who leaked the identity if a CIA agent.

crooked....crooked...crooked