By Alabama Public Radio
Montgomery, AL – Auburn University trustee John Blackwell was summoned before a federal grand jury Thursday in Montgomery. The panel is investigating government corruption. Once he was finished, Blackwell declined to comment on the matter. He's a Huntsville businessman who was appointed to the Auburn board in 1999 by former Governor Don Siegelman. Siegelman says he has no idea why Blackwell was called to the grand jury, unless, he says Blackwell possibly contributed to one of his campaigns or contributed to the 1999 lottery campaign. Some previous witnesses have been Siegelman contributors. The grand jury has been meeting off-and-on since last June to review Siegelman's administration.