Political corruption is nothing new in Alabama--nor in any other state in the Union. It does come as a surprise, though, when it appears that the prime operator of the GOP--Karl Rove--is involved in the prosecution of a former Democratic Governor.
This allegation comes from a Republican whistleblower, lawyer Dana Jill Simpson, who is apparently suffering repercussions from her honesty:
She’s been smeared as "crazy" and as a "disgruntled contract bidder." And something nastier: after her intention to speak became known, Simpson’s house was burned to the ground, and her car was driven off the road and totaled.
Karl Rove is just one single man, albeit a very busy one, so how is that he can be involved in so many scandals, all across the country?
Friends in low places.
Read on.
Bill Canary and Karl Rove have a history together. In the 1990s, Karl Rove worked with Republican operative Bill Canary and the Alabama Republican Party on making sure the courts could be packed with as many conservative judges as possible.
Fast forward to 2002. After the election for Governor of Alabama, Republican Bob Riley led Governor Don Seigelman by about 3000 votes. A contentious recount seemed likely. That, it appears, is when the Republican machine went into overdrive and the conference call with Karl Rove took place.
As Patricia McCarter of the Huntsville Times writes:
...attorney Jill Simpson - a longtime Republican who volunteered for Riley's campaign - filed an affidavit about a scheme that high-ranking Republicans hatched to make sure Siegelman would drop his recount request.
In an interview with Time magazine, Simpson said the governor's son, Rob Riley, said in a November 2002 conference call that Siegelman was "just like a cockroach. He'll never die. What are we doing to do?"
In her affidavit, Simpson said Alabama GOP operative Bill Canary said he'd spoken with "Karl," who assured him the Department of Justice was already positioned to go after Siegelman. Simpson said Canary said "his girls" would "take care" of the governor, and the "girls" he was referring to were his wife, Leura Canary, and Alice Martin, both U.S. attorneys.
U.S. Attorney Leura Canary, wife of Republican operative Bill Canary, and U.S. Attorney Alice Martin opened the investigation of former Governor Don Seigelman.
Politically motivated? Karl Rove involved? Asked by a Huntsville Times reporter:
Rove's response (with a smile) to such an explosive accusation:
"I know nothing about any phone call," Rove said.
Then a White House press aide stepped up and said, "What he meant to say was that he has no comment."
That's just the tip of the iceberg on this web of corruption the Republicans have spun. For some interesting tidbits about how Jack Abramoff is tangentially involved (isn't he always?), check out the first link.
Justice in Alabama, by Scott Horton
Rove Comments On Siegelman Prosecution
An Honest Republican Emerges
Sentencing Seigelman