AUSTIN -- Released from prison less than four months ago pending the outcome of an appeal, former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman appeared at Netroots Nation to discuss his take on his federal case. After serving nine months in prison, Siegelman appears confident the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals will find the charges against him to have been politically motivated and send him free for good.

Siegelman made clear his contempt for Karl Rove, mentioning their history in the state dating back to 1992 and claiming that Rove helped corrupt the top law enforcement agency in the country, the U.S. Justice Department. "I don't know about you, but I have a bit of contempt for Karl Rove," Siegelman said. "Today we're launching a new website called "contemptforrove.com." We have got to let Congress know that we are serious about this. If we want our rights to protect us, we've got to protect our rights."

"I know there are many serious issues that challenge the future of this country: the war, health care, the economy. But something as fundamental as abusing the use of power to prosecute your political opponents is something we cannot tolerate. I'm not going to tolerate it, and I'm asking you to fight back."

"If it wasn't Karl Rove," Siegelman noted, "somebody hijacked our Department of Justice and used it as a political tool."

Rove has repeatedly denied being involved in any effort against Siegelman. Despite a Congressional subpoena to testify about his possible involvement in the Siegelman affair, Rove failed to appear before House Judiciary subcommittee hearing earlier this month, citing executive privilege. Rove recently defended that decision, and the Judiciary Committee and Speaker Pelosi are now mulling whether to proceed with a formal charge of contempt against President Bush's former White House advisor.