By Samuel Mattison
Alabama Political Reporter
Former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman announced he is writing a new book about his legal case, which landed him a conviction in federal prison for five years.
Siegelman said this during an interview with the Alabama Political Reporter’s Editor-in-Chief Bill Britt during a live taping of the TV show The Voice of Alabama Politics, where Britt is a host.
The former governor was in Montgomery at Troy University’s Davis Theater for a showing of Atticus V. The Architect, which is a documentary about his criminal case.
Siegelman was convicted in 2006 of corruption charges in connection to a political donation by HealthSouth CEO Richard Scrushy. Siegelman has maintained his innocence since the ruling and has appealed the decision. He even asked President Donald Trump for a pardon earlier this year.
He was released in February from a five-year stay in federal prison.
The movie was originally supposed to be shown at the Capri Theater in Montgomery, but it faced trouble from the Capri’s management. Leura Canary, who prosecuted Siegelman’s case, is a member of the board of directors and had concerns of her image portrayed by the movie.
APR sequentially offered to sponsor the movie on the grounds of free speech. The offer was accepted, and the venue was set for Davis Theatre on Troy University of Montgomery on Oct. 1, 2017.
Troy University Chancellor Jack Hawkins approved the movie, telling APR that he would never attempt to quell freedom of expression.
The showing was host to notable guests, including Republican leaders, state Auditor Jim Zeigler and Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill.
Zeigler, in a written statement, said the film was not about a Republican conspiracy to convict Siegelman but rather a documentary about certain individuals who participated in an alleged conspiracy. He went on to write, “many of the players are not in good graces with Alabama Republicans.”
