Court ruling not to release Scrushy may offer hope for Siegelman

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A federal appeal court's view of former HealthSouth CEO Richard Scrushy as a potential flight risk stems from a Florida yacht trip last year that set off alarms with prosecutors but Scrushy described as a misunderstanding.

While the errant yacht trip had harsh consequences for Scrushy, ruling out his release from prison on appeal bond, it may offer a glimmer of hope to former Gov. Don Siegelman, also seeking release while his appeal is pending.

University of Alabama political scientist William Stewart, who has followed the Siegelman and Scrushy case closely, said Tuesday the ruling by two judges on the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals puts a separate ruling on Siegelman in a new light.

U.S. District Judge Mark Fuller, in a filing last week explaining why he did not allow Siegelman to go free on appeal bond, specifically said Siegelman had proven he is not a flight risk. Fuller has held that Scrushy might flee, citing the yacht trip.

"I do think it should be encouraging for Siegelman that there has not been a question of him being a flight risk. He's obviously got to have hope," Stewart said.

Siegelman attorney Vince Kilborn said Tuesday the rulings mean the 11th Circuit judges will have to consider all of the arguments the Siegelman defense has made concerning why the former governor should be released while his conviction is appealed.

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