In 2006 former Democrat Alabama Governor Siegelman was convicted on federal felony charges and sentenced to seven years in prison for accepting $500,000 to his campaign for a state lottery to fund universal education in exchange for appointing Richard M. Scrushy, former CEO of Healthsouth HMO to a state hospital regulatory board, a non-paying position. Scrushy, had served on the state hospital regulatory board over the past three Republican administrations. More than 100 former attorneys generals and officials, both Democrat and Republican, have contended that Siegelman's prosecution was marred by prosecutorial misconduct.



