By Alabama Public Radio
Birmingham, AL – An attorney for former Governor Don Siegelman says gifts he received from business owners while governor were NOT illegal. Jack Drake says some of the items were left at the Governor's Mansion and are still in the possession of the state. Drake says prosecutors were trying to influence prospective jurors by disclosing the gifts. Siegelman, his former chief of staff and a Tuscaloosa physician are all accused of conspiracy in a bid rigging scheme for a state Medicaid contract. The federal prosecutors in a filing Monday claimed Siegelman took more than 25-thousand-dollars' worth of vehicles, guns and coffee mugs from business owners who needed help from the state while he was in office.