The World Around You

TIME Magazine has a report this morning that will be the talk of the state…and probably the nation.

On may 8, 2002, Clayton Lamar (Lanny) Young Jr., a lobbyist and landfill developer described by acquaintances as a hard-drinking “good ole boy,” was in an expansive mood. In the downtown offices of the U.S. Attorney in Montgomery, Ala., Young settled into his chair, personal lawyer at his side, and proceeded to tell a group of seasoned prosecutors and investigators that he had paid tens of thousands of dollars in apparently illegal campaign contributions to some of the biggest names in Alabama Republican politics. According to Young, among the recipients of his largesse were the state’s former attorney general Jeff Sessions, now a U.S. Senator, and William Pryor Jr., Sessions’ successor as attorney general and now a federal judge. Young, whose detailed statements are described in documents obtained by TIME, became a key witness in a major case in Alabama that brought down a high-profile politician and landed him in federal prison with an 88-month sentence. As it happened, however, that official was the top Democrat named by Young in a series of interviews, and none of the Republicans whose campaigns he fingered were investigated in the case, let alone prosecuted.

This is the “smoking gun” Siegelman supporters have always suspected was there, but couldn’t obtain. Again, I will not waver in my position that Siegelman is guilty, but it sounds like Bill Pryor and Jeff Sessions belong alongside him in prison, and they should be investigated and prosecuted if similar supporting facts and documentation exist. I’ve also never disagreed that the prosecutors in this case had a singular focus on Siegelman, but I did not know until these documents were brought to light this morning that it was to the exclusion of clear misdeeds by Republicans that were never investigated. It is outrageous and I hope this report brings action.

If true, Young’s statements describe political money laundering that would be a clear violation of federal law. In 1996, when Young said he had made the contributions, it was illegal to give a candidate more than $1,000 for a primary or general campaign. None of the individuals Young named as his intermediaries in making the donations are listed in Federal Election Commission records as contributors to Sessions’ 1996 U.S. Senate race. “We have on record a $1,000 contribution from Mr. Young during the 1996 election cycle and no record of any other contribution from him,” says a spokesman for Sessions.

This also gives ample fodder to Sessions opponent in the US Senate race next year, State Senator Vivian Figures, to question his ethics and his endorsement of the prosecution of Siegelman when similar facts exist to support a prosecution of him.

Former Attorney General and current Federal Appellate Court Judge Bill Pryor is also in it neck deep,

But it wasn’t always as impersonal as handing over a stack of bills or checks. Among the illegal actions alleged in Siegelman’s indictment was his acceptance from Young of thousands of dollars’ worth of free T shirts and hundreds of specially embossed coffee mugs to give away as Christmas presents. The freebies were popular, said Young. “I had got them coffee cups and stuff before and shirts, and I had the same thing for Bill [Pryor].” Young estimated the value of the mugs at $13,000 to $15,000, and he even offered to share the extras with his inquisitors: “I’ve still got a case of his [Pryor's coffee cups] … if y’all want to come get them.” (”I don’t think we want to touch them right now,” an investigator replied.)

More to follow on the fall-out from this report throughout the day.

Selective Justice in Alabama? – TIME

UPDATES:

***I agree with Danny, this story is generating more interest, not less.

***Danny is also reporting that 60 Minutes is filming a Siegelman segment.

***Bob Johnson filed his report at 6:40pm and was able to get the following from one of the prosecutors:

“At the time Lanny was detailing having made contributions to other public officials, he characterized these contributions as legitimate. There was no understanding he would get something for them,” Feaga said.

“We were looking to determine whether or not any public official had sold his office for money,” Feaga said. “Our investigation found one that did. His name was Don Siegelman and he was prosecuted and convicted.”

***Mac has his take and links to some misinformed information from Kos as well.