Former Alabama governor pleads case to Colorado delegation

DENVER -- Former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman, convicted on bribery and mail fraud charges last year, asked Colorado Democratic National Committee delegates Monday morning to press their U.S. representative to find former Bush adviser Karl Rove in contempt of Congress.

Siegelman, who won national attention after accusing Rove of pressuring the U.S. Department of Justice to prosecute him, is out on bond while a federal appellate court reviews his conviction.

The former governor pleaded his case to delegates, encouraging them to push Congress to find Karl Rove in contempt after Rove refused to testify before a Congressional committee investigating whether there was improper political influence in the case. Rove has refused to testify, claiming executive privilege.

“A little over a year ago, I was in maximum security prison -- solitary confinement. Now I’m out and we’re talking about putting Karl Rove in!” Siegelman said during the delegation breakfast at the Grand Hyatt in Denver.

“This is not about me -- this is about restoring justice and preserving our democracy,” he said.

Siegelman convinced at least one Colorado congressman.

“The governor is laying out the witch hunt that he faced, and if Karl Rove was the ringleader of that, that’s a crime,” said U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-Wheat Ridge).

Perlmutter’s office has received many letters and phone calls asking Congress to investigate potential meddling in Siegelman’s case, spokesperson Leslie Oliver said.

“This is not inside the beltway,” Perlmutter said.”(Siegelman) got a standing ovation to say, ‘go talk to your congressman about pursuing Karl Rove.’”

Siegelman was invited to speak before the delegation by Colorado Democratic Party political director Bill Compton, who used to work for Siegelman.

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