By Associated Press
Birmingham, AL – Nick Bailey is preparing to report to federal prison Friday. In a newspaper interview Thursday, he said he regrets the role he played that led to the downfall of former Alabama Governor Don Siegelman.
Bailey, a longtime aide to Siegelman, provided the key testimony last year that led to the conviction of Siegelman and former HealthSouth CEO Richard Scrushy in a government corruption case.
At a gathering with friends last night, Bailey said that if he had it to do over again he would not have cooperated with federal prosecutors and instead would have taken his chance with a jury.
Bailey pleaded guilty to bribery-related charges in the government corruption case and was sentenced to 18 months in prison. His sentence could have been four years or more, but was reduced because of his cooperation with federal authorities.
He said he hopes to be released from prison in 15 months with good behavior.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)