High Court Allows Siegelman, Scrushy Corruption Convictions to Stand (CNN)

Separate appeals for former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman and HealthSouth CEO and founder Richard Scrushy were rejected this week. The two were convicted in 2006 of public corruption and bribery in a political payback scheme that traded $500,000 in campaign donations for a state regulatory board seat and favorable treatment in government contracts. The appeal came down to a question of whether a campaign contribution could constitute bribery if the contribution was not made in “explicit” exchange for a promise of an official act. Scrushy and Siegelman each received about seven years behind bars, and were fined. Scrushy remains in federal custody in a Texas halfway house. Scrushy was also the first CEO of a major company to be tried criminally under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Siegelman was released four years ago on bail, pending appeal.