Report: Karl Rove Wanted Dirt on Alabama Gov.
A former campaign worker has told CBS's 60 Minutes that Karl Rove, President Bush's one-time top adviser, tried to get her to find evidence that former Alabama Gov. Don Siegleman was cheating on his wife. Jill Simpson has long alleged that Rove may have influenced the Justice Department when it sought charges against Siegleman, who is currently serving seven years.
Rove's attorney denied the charges.
The Justice Department has said there is no basis in Simpson's allegations about Rove interfering in the case, and that Siegleman was convicted by a jury. The Associated Press reports that the Justice prosecution of Siegleman "stemmed from his appointment of former HealthSouth CEO Richard Scrushy to an influential hospital regulatory board in exchange for Scrushy arranging contributions to Siegleman's campaign for a state lottery."
But Democrats on Capitol Hill are looking into the case as part of a broader look at how the White House may have influenced cases at the Justice Department. Forty former Attorneys General have also called for a congressional investigation into the case.
10:10 AM ET | 02-22-2008 | permalink
