The arrests had begun. The rumors had been flying for months. I was certain that indictments would come out in October to have maximum adverse impact on the Nov. 2 general election. We were concerned.

Our concern started years ago with Karl Rove, political guru who helped George Bush become governor of Texas and subsequently president. We perceived Karl Rove as the ultimate “take no prisoners” political operative who would not hesitate to use the criminal justice system to accomplish political purposes.

U. S. Attorney Laura Canary hounded Gov. Don Siegelman from the very beginning of his tenure with highly public investigations and Rove was implicated in the decision. As a result of the investigations, the election between Gov. Siegelman and Congressman Bob Riley was very close. Gov. Riley became governor of Alabama when 3,000 votes miraculously appeared based upon an alleged miscount. To us, it was all so Rove-like.

Let’s fast forward. Early in this term Gov. Riley sent out a communication stating that his top priority was to take over the Alabama Senate. He has since raised millions of dollars. He has attacked constitutionally provided bingo entities. Then when a bingo Constitutional Amendment was being considered by the Alabama Senate to let the people vote, representatives for the U. S. Attorney office and other law enforcement agencies called a meeting with legislative leaders to tell them that an investigation was ongoing.

I am told that this investigation has been going on some 19 months. However, the indictments came out Oct. 4, just 29 days before the election. Why not bring the indictments 99 days before the election or nine days after the election? The timing was about politics.

The senators and others were arrested at just after 6 a.m. They were handcuffed and had shackles placed on their ankles. Even a woman, Sen. Harri Anne Smith, was placed in leg shackles. Those arrested were taken to their bond hearing that afternoon in leg shackles and handcuffs. It was a big political show.

Gov. Riley tried desperately to organize the Senate around republicans in 2003 and 2007 despite substantial democratic majorities.

The U. S. Attorney’s office announced that trials might be held in two months.

In my feeble opinion, the indictments with their attendant shackled arrests and initial court appearance were timed to hurt the election chances of those senators. The “hurry up” trial is designed to make sure they are convicted before organization of the Senate in case they win despite politicization of the criminal investigation.

The persuasive rumors of additional forthcoming indictments (one false rumor had Senator Lowell Barron and me in jail) are designed to immobilize democrats, put brakes on fundraising and hamper effective political mobilization. The only way to prevent such misuse of the criminal justice system is to vote in even larger numbers.

Hank Sanders represents the 23rd Alabama state Senate District.