[JURIST] Former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman [official profile] pleaded not guilty on Thursday afternoon to charges related to what prosecutors are calling a "widespread racketeering conspiracy" [JURIST report]. Former Chief of Staff Paul Hamrick and former state Transportation Director Mack Roberts also pleaded not guilty on Thursday. Richard Scrushy [defense website], the former HealthSouth CEO who was acquitted of fraud charges [JURIST report] in June, is expected in court Friday to enter a plea on bribery charges. Prosecutors say $500,000 in contributions that Scrushy made to the Alabama Educational Lottery Foundation in 1999 and 2000 were intended to secure his position on a state board overseeing hospital expansion. Scrushy's lawyer said "[he] is not guilty and will be fully vindicated at trial." The Washington Post has more. The Montgomery Advertiser has local coverage.