By Alabama Public Radio
Montgomery AL – In Wednesday's testimony at former Governor Don Siegelman's trial a key government witness said 500-thousand dollars in donations to a state lottery campaign were not reported in accordance with Alabama election law. The witness, former Siegelman aide Nick Bailey, said the donations were arranged by former HealthSouth chairman Richard Scrushy. When asked why the donations went unreported, Bailey said he was told Scrushy didn't want his wife to know he was supporting Siegelman's lottery plan. Bailey has testified that Scrushy made the campaign donations in exchange for a seat on the Certificate of Need board, which regulates hospital expansions. In earlier testimony, defense attorneys pointed out that Scrushy had served on the board under the three previous governors. They also told the jury that neither he nor Siegelman pressured the board to approve two HealthSouth projects.