Former Alabama governor, ex-HealthSouth CEO indicted News
Former Alabama governor, ex-HealthSouth CEO indicted

[JURIST] Former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman [official profile] and former HealthSouth CEO Richard Scrushy [defense website], along with two others, have been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges if a "widespread racketeering conspiracy" that included bribery for official acts in the state. According to the indictment, Siegelman and former chief of staff Paul Hamrick took bribes and used extortion during his term as governor from 1999 to 2003, with Scrushy allegedly paying $500,000 for an appointment to the state hospital regulatory board. Also charged was former Transportation Director Gary Mack Roberts, who Siegelman allegedly used to help influence state agency actions. Siegelman has maintained [Birmingham News report] that the investigation is a partisan attempt to derail his campaign to regain the governorship. Siegelman was indicted last year [JURIST report] for health care fraud, although the charges were ultimately dropped [JURIST report] after prosecutors could not prove the case. The Montgomery Advertiser has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Indian National Congress founded

The Indian National Congress (INC) was founded on December 28, 1885 in Bombay (now Mumbai), India. In subsequent decades, the so-called Congress Party would advocate for Indian independence from the UK, which was eventually achieved in 1947. The first Prime Minister of independent India, Jawaharlal Nehru, was elected as a member of the INC. Learn more about the history and founding of the Indian National Congress.

Congress recognized Pledge of Allegiance

On December 28, 1945, Congress officially recognized the Pledge of Allegiance and encouraged its recitation in schools. The Pledge was supposedly written in 1892 by Francis Bellamy, a Baptist minister, to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Columbus Day. The words “under God” were added by Congress in 1954. The revised version of the Pledge was the subject of litigation before the United States Supreme Court originally brought by Michael Newdow, a parent who unsuccessfully objected to his daughter's school district policy requiring daily recitation of the Pledge. The court ruled that Newdow had no standing.

Nepal ends monarchy, establishes republic

On December 28, 2007, the Kingdom of Nepal's interim parliament ended the country's monarchy and established the Republic of Nepal. Free elections were held on April 10 of the following year to elect a Constituent Assembly.

Learn more about the rise of democracy in Nepal.