Don Siegelman The Mirror Reflection Of ALL That Is WRONG With The United States Of America & TIME To Do More Than Just Something

My Dear Friend,

I cannot thank you enough for all that you've done...kind words of support, prayers, donating, letters to Congress and the President. All of these keep my spirit high!

There is more good news, my new legal team, headed by Greg Craig of Skadden Arps, has just filed my final brief with the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. They have done an outstanding job, and I am very encouraged. We are appealing from a denial of my motion for a new trial. We are raising the argument that the US Attorney, whose husband worked for my Republican opponent, stayed involved, and had a conflict of interest. Say a prayer, keep your fingers crossed, and wish me luck!

The Department of Justice may try to fight my request in order to protect itself, but I am very fortunate to have Skadden Arps take up the legal battle.

There are so many in prison who have it worse than I do, younger men who received extraordinarily long sentences for petty drug crimes. Many unfortunate addicts who quickly realized they were doing wrong once they were in prison and sobered up. Many of these non-violent offenders could be given a second chance, an early release to go back to their families, and start over.

Recently, Eric Holder announced his intention to avoid sentencing defendants to a long mandatory minimum sentences. Unfortunately, that wont help America's two million plus prisoners and their families. The billions of dollars spent keeping these non-violent prisoners behind bars will not be reduced nor will justice be done.

New York recently reported spending over $160,000 a year on keeping each prisoner behind bars. Have we lost our minds? The Los Angeles Times reported, January 5th, 2010: "Yesterday, President Obama sent his lawyers into the U.S. Supreme Court to argue that 'U.S.Citizens do not have a constitutional right not to be framed.' " That statement sounds like it came from a Third World totalitarian dictator, not a constitutional democracy.

Many investigators, prosecutors and judges, make their living off putting people in prison. Federal prosecutors get promotions and financial bonuses based on their convictions. Most District Attorneys, state Attorneys General, and judges are elected and want to be viewed as "tough on crime," so they seek convictions and long jail sentences. Addicts may need treatment and some time in prison, but they should not be accused of drug conspiracy by the false testimony of another felon who is "cooperating" to get a lighter sentence!

President Obama, when he was in the Senate, made a sensible proposal to try to end framing citizens. It would have required law enforcement agents to record their interrogation of witnesses and to give those recordings to the defense. If enforced properly, the recordings would show how the felons, under questioning or inducements, were led or coached to give false testimony. (You may remember, this also happened in my case. See CBS 60 Minutes)

President Obama and Attorney General Holder should adopt a policy of not defending investigators and prosecutors in civil actions where they knowingly and willfully presented false testimony to win a conviction. It's just morally right. Enough with wasting lives, money, and time. There are solutions that can protect the public without the suffering.

Please take the time today to encourage Attorney General Holder to move forward with President Obama's proposal to stop framing U.S. citizens and commend the Attorney General for his bold step toward changing the sentencing system.

Hon. Eric Holder
U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Av. NW
Washington, DC 20530

Also, Members of Congress who are speaking out about sentencing injustices may be encouraged. Please write a note of thanks to these two U.S. Senators for sponsoring Senate Bill 619 which supports sentencing reform:

Democrat:
Honorable Pat Leahy
437 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

Republican:
Honorable Rand Paul
208 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510

Finally, I have been using my time to help inmates appeal unfair or unusually long sentences that are not supported by evidence or law. One case is now on its way to the U.S. Supreme Court! My first!

Thank you for continuing to support my legal defense.

With very best wishes,

Don Siegelman
24775-001
Federal Prison Camp
PO Box 5010
Oakdale, LA 71463