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AL.com; July 9, 2013

MONTGOMERY, Alabama --- President Barack Obama's former White House counsel visited Don Siegelman in prison in the last few weeks, and the law firm he works for is taking over part of the former governor's appeal of his bribery conviction.

Gregory B. Craig, who was White House counsel from January 2009 to January 2010, visited Siegelman at the federal detention center in Oakdale, La., according to Siegelman's son, Joseph Siegelman, and Peter Sissman, who has worked on the former governor's case for four years.

On June 27, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit granted Sissman's motion to withdraw from the case because of illness. The court also granted Sissman's motion to extend by 60 days a deadline to file a brief and records for Siegelman's appeal. Sissman said the extension was needed to give Siegelman's new lawyers time to prepare.

Craig works for Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher and Flom, an international firm with 23 offices. Craig could not be reached for comment.

Sissman said Craig's initial involvement in Siegelman's case concerned a possible request for executive clemency through a pardon or commutation. He said Craig's involvement grew after visiting Siegelman in prison.

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