How Bad Is 60 Minutes Screw Up? ... Pretty Bad

I see Powerline weighs in on the latest 60 Minutes controversy here. Having done additional research to understand what Jim Hoft at Gateway Pundit is asserting here, some facts may lend further clarification as to the bogus nature of a recent 60 Minutes piece attacking Karl Rove, while misleadingly defending an imprisoned Democrat, former Alabama Govenor, Don Siegelman. Original 60 Minutes report here.

To begin with, in the report, 60 Minutes uses a quick 2004 dismissal of previous charges as a major point in suggesting Siegelman was being railroaded. But they totally ignored repeated attempts, some successful, some not, to change judges in that case. A judge linked to the Republican Governor was removed; yet, later, a Democrat judge with ties to Siegelman was allowed to hear the case and ruled in what some might call an irresponsible manner - making it more difficult to prove corruption in the end. That entire 2004 history is archived here.

Prosecutors filed a motion Monday, claiming Clemon's daughter, while working for a Birmingham law firm, represented at least six state agencies while Siegelman was governor. Prosecutors also said the daughter, Addine Michelle Clemon, gave money to Siegelman's unsuccessful re-election campaign in 2002.

The motion also said the judge has expressed bias against the government stemming from being investigated in a criminal matter involving his sister, Arnese Clemon. She pleaded guilty to fraud and money laundering in a case involving the Los Angeles school district and was sentenced to prison.

Judge Clemon was not charged in the case, but he was represented during the investigation by former Lt. Gov. Bill Baxley. The motion said Baxley now represents "an important unindicted co-conspirator" in the Siegelman case.

The second major item which significantly undermines the 60 Minutes piece is how, according to an independent journalist, they got major alleged facts so clearly wrong in the aired report:

“Mr. Bailey had indicated that there had been a meeting with Governor Siegelman and Mr. Scrushy, a private meeting in the Governor's office, just the two of them,” says Doug Jones, who was one of Siegelman’s lawyers.

“And then, as soon as Mr. Scrushy left, the governor walked out with a $250,000 check that he said Scrushy have given him for the lottery foundation.”

“Had the check in his hand right then and there?” Pelley asks.

“Had the check in his hand right then,” Jones says.

In this new investigation, prosecutors zeroed in on that vivid story told by Siegelman’s aide, Nick Bailey, who said he saw the governor with a check in his hand after meeting Richard Scrushy.

Trouble was, Bailey was wrong about the check, and Siegelman’s lawyer says prosecutors knew it.

“They got a copy of the check. And the check was cut days after that meeting. There was no way possible for Siegelman to have walked out of that meeting with a check in his hand,” Jones explains.

“That would seem like a problem with the prosecution's case,” Pelley remarks.
“It was a huge problem especially when you've got a guy who's credibility was going to be the lynch pin of that case. It was a huge problem,” Jones says.

A local journalist's Response -- Jones paraphrasing of Bailey’s testimony about his discussion with Siegelman following the meeting is not exact, not as strong as the actual testimony, but that’s not the problem. The problem is that there was no testimony that the first $250,000 check was given to Siegelman at this meeting (actually, as I assume you know, the check came from Maryland-based Integrated Health Services.) In fact, there was substantial testimony from a host of witnesses including former executives with Integrated Health, HealthSouth, and the New York-based investment banking firm that served HealthSouth and had a most interesting role in the $250,000 donation.

Jones was actually correct when telling your wide-eyed host Pelley that the check was dated after the meeting. However, it was given to Siegelman at a later meeting. Neither prosecutors nor witnesses at trial, Bailey included, said the check was given by Scrushy to Siegelman at the first meeting.

Doug Jones was flat wrong on this point which 60 Minutes thought so powerful that, out of what surely was a much longer interview, it used in the segment.

Comments

[scarshapedstar]

It's funny how they can definitively say that the (bullshit, coached, false) testimony about the check never took place, given that there is *still* no official transcript of the trial. Does Eddie "Who?" Curran know something we don't?

---
Flashback: Officials in Gov. Don Siegelman's administration said they will no longer speak with a Mobile Register investigative reporter because of what they say is his "bias and unprofessional behavior."

They cite reporter Eddie Curran's use of obscenities in responding angrily on the telephone to what Curran has said he believed was an administration staff member's insult that questioned his professional objectivity.

Register Editor Mike Marshall said Curran, whose stories in recent months have raised questions about state business handled by Siegelman's administration, will not be reassigned and will continue to cover state government.

"Eddie should not have lost his temper," Marshall said. "He has apologized, I've apologized, so now it's time for everybody to get back to work."
---

Huh. Seems like this unbiased, "independent" reporter was so set on nailing Siegelman that he *flipped the fuck out* if anyone called him on it. Oooookay.

I won't let that tarnish my judgment of his arguments, though. After all, he's supported by the morals of Karl Rove and the uncorrupted nature of Alabama politicians.

*laughter, crying*

[scarshapedstar]

And, yes, if you're curious, that bit about the transcript? The (biased) judge is hellbent on ensuring that Siegelman never receives his appeal (you know, the one he's entitled to, and all that) through any means necessary, so he's held up the release of the transcript for over a year and a half -- even though he's bound by law to release it within 30 days of the verdict. (Must be the "rule of law" you guys were always yammering about when Clinton was in office!)

http://www.harpers.org/archive/2007/11/hbc-90001637

Apparently, the Court of Appeals can't proceed without the transcript. Slick move, real slick. Maybe Karl and Gonzo figured out that trick.

Maybe the appellate courts should talk to Eddie Curran...

[Andy B]

For CBS to get this story SO wrong one has to ask, what was their motivation? Seeing that Gov. Siegelman's appealing his 7 year sentence, and a new PR campaign seems to be in order, who at CBS is connected to the case? Are there any individuals employed at CBS who are connected, related to, or indebted to the convicted governor? Do they hope their report will sway public opinion in Alabama in hopes of having the former governors sentence overturned? It would be nice to know CBS's motives in this instance.

It just seems to me something other than irresponsible journalism is going on here. It would be interesting to know if anybody at CBS has personal connections to Gov. Siegelman. Or, as is possible, the whole report is just a case of RDS, Rove Derangement Syndrome.

[scarshapedstar]

Andy, when the judge releases the trial transcript, we'll talk.

Until then, it's a kangaroo court.

[The Grand Panjandrum]

Do you read Scott Horton? If not, then I suggest you take the time to read everything he has written with regard to this matter. Facts. They do matter you know.

[Yoda]

A crock, 60 Minutes has always been.

[Winston Smith]

"Mr. Rove has not honored his subpoena, something you and I would end up in jail for. How is that possible? Is Mr. Rove above the law? If Mr. Rove is telling the truth, then why not tell it to the public and under oath in defense of himself? Surely Mr. Rove is not above the law? Surely, if he feels so strongly about his side of the story, he would want to clear his name? People who are telling the truth are willing to clear their name in the public sphere. In fact, they demand it. Mr. Rove hides and uses friendly-reporters as proxy attack dogs. It does not look good, does it? It does not look like the way an innocent person would behave, does it?" - Much safer to attack CBS then defend Rove. Please remember to stick to that tactic.

"Was Mr. Canary (a consultant for Bob Riley, Don Siegelman's opponent during the 2002 election) involved in a conversation on November 18, 2002 in which he said that "his girls" (allegedly in reference to his wife, US Attorney Leura Canary and their friend, US Attorney Alice Martin) would "take care of" Mr. Siegelman? Who else was on that call? Is it appropriate for a US Attorney to be investigating the opponent of her husband's client? Is that not a conflict of interest?" - Again its imporotant to attack sources even when they are RNC affiliated like Canary.

[Fred Beloit]

Let's cut a path through the nits. The main character in CBS's claim is one Jill Simpson. Read about her here: http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives2/2008/03/019926.php

[BobInStamford]

Power line is written by a bunch of clowns. They, along with Laura Ingraham are a disgrace to my alma mater.

[templar knight]

No, Boob, I would disagree with you on that one, along with 95% of people who have seen the work or Powerline as opposed to your....lameness. You're a disgrace, period. To your school, to your city, to your state, and to your country. And your world. Now, sit on it.

[Worst President Ever]

If Rove's innocent, why's he avoiding testifying?

And this from Paul Craig Roberts - Google him, he's no liberal:

The frame-up of Siegelman and businessman Richard Scrushy is so crystal clear and blatant that 52 former state attorney generals from across America, both Republicans and Democrats, have urged the US Congress to investigate the Bush Administration’s use of the US Department of Justice to rid themselves of a Democratic governor who “they could not beat fair and square,” according to Grant Woods, former Republican Attorney General of Arizona and co-chair of the McCain for President leadership committee. Woods says that he has never seen a case with so “many red flags pointing to injustice.”

[WAHOO WILLIE]

"If Rove's innocent, why's he avoiding testifying?"

Because it's a non-isue that the sane care nothing about! Dammit, baseball players are taking steroids............

[seekeronos]

"--- Power line is written by a bunch of clowns. They, along with Laura Ingraham are a disgrace to my alma mater. ---"

Da Boob is a Dartmouth grad?

Such a waste of money, unless Dartmouth is a mill for Marxists.