Alabama Gov. Says He’s Innocent

Gov. Donald Siegelman proclaimed his innocence Monday amid reports that criminal investigators have subpoenaed his banking and investment records as part of a growing probe into state business deals.

“I know I have done nothing wrong and those records will show that,” Siegelman said.

Siegelman said he learned about the subpoena from a report in the Birmingham News on Sunday, and he accused someone within the investigation of leaking information to damage his reputation in an election year.

Recent statewide polls showed the Democrat in a virtual dead heat with the two leading Republican front-runners, Lt. Gov. Steve Windom and U.S. Rep. Bob Riley.

“It’s clear this is coming from a joint investigation by a Republican attorney general and a Republican U.S. attorney. It’s coming at the beginning of what will be a tough, hard-fought campaign,” Siegelman said.

Alabama Atty. Gen. Bill Pryor and U.S. Atty. Leura Garrett Canary declined comment.

State and federal authorities have investigated several state deals, including a now-defunct Alabama warehouse construction project supervised by one of Siegelman’s long-term supporters.

Roland Vaughan, former chairman of the Business Council of Alabama, was hired for $25,000 by a Siegelman aide to scout warehouse sites for the state. He was indicted for theft after it was discovered he was half-owner of the site he recommended Alabama buy, according to court papers.

On Friday, the News also disclosed that Siegelman failed to report money from investments and legal fees on his financial disclosure reports, some dating back to 1996. He filed amended reports with the Alabama Ethics Commission after being questioned by the newspaper.

A spokesman for the governor said the amount was less than $250,000. The investment money came through Sterne, Agee & Leach, one of the companies from which investigators have sought Siegelman’s financial records. No one from the firm returned a telephone call Monday.