Judge refuses to throw out fraud convictions of Siegelman, Scrushy News
Judge refuses to throw out fraud convictions of Siegelman, Scrushy

[JURIST] A federal judge Monday denied motions by former Alabama governor Don Siegelman [official profile] and former HealthSouth [corporate website] CEO Richard Scrushy [JURIST news archive] to overturn their corruption convictions. US District Judge Mark Fuller [official profile] ruled there was "substantial evidence" to back jury verdicts against them.

In June 2006, Siegelman was convicted [JURIST report] on 10 counts, including bribery, conspiracy, and mail fraud. Scrushy was found guilty of fraud and both were also convicted in connection with a $500,000 payment from Scrushy for Siegelman's 1999 campaign debts in exchange for a seat on a state-operated review board that regulates hospitals. Siegelman and Scrushy face up to 30 years in prison. In a separate action, Scrushy was acquitted in 2005 [JURIST report] on charges of wire and mail fraud, money laundering, conspiracy, and violations of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act in a scheme to overstate earnings and inflate HealthSouth's stock price between 1996 and 2002. AP has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

38 Santee Sioux hanged by US for rebellion

On December 26, 1862, 38 Santee Sioux men were hanged in a mass execution for their roles in a rebellion against US authorities in Minnesota which left hundreds dead and made refugees of some 40,000 white settlers. Government annuities promised under a treaty with the Sioux had failed to arrive on schedule and credit for purchases was not advanced in the meantime, threatening the tribe with starvation. The Santee Sioux Tribe's members were deported first to South Dakota and ultimately to Nebraska, where they remain today. Learn more about the 1862 Minnesota Sioux Rebellion.

Louis XVI put on trial during French Revolution

On December 26, 1792, Romain de Sèze, a defense attorney for deposed King Louis XVI, presented a defense of his client. The former King was on trial before a French Revolutionary court on thirty-three charges, including treason and other crimes against the state. He was convicted on January 15, 1793 executed by guillotine on the following January 21.