Karl Rove vs. MSNBC

Former White House adviser Karl Rove sent a letter to Dan Abrams the host of MSNBC’s “Verdict” questioning the host’s “journalistic standards” in reporting on the prosecution of former Alabama Governor Don Siegelman.

Siegelman, who was convicted of bribery, but has since been released on appeal, appeared on the show on April 7.

The former Governor has accused Rove of orchestrating the Justice Department investigation on supposed bribery charges from the White House in order to gain political advantage.

The House Judiciary Committee is investigating the matter and on Thursday called on Rove to testify.

Rove’s point of contention with MSNBC involves the portrayal of Alabama Republican attorney Jill Simpson, who said in sworn testimony that the son of the state

Abramson has also accused Rove of asking her to follow Siegelman in an attempt to take pictures of the former Governor cheating on his wife.

Siegelman identified Simpson as a “respected Republican political operative,” a characterization Rove refutes.

Rove has called Simpson a “complete lunatic” and has repeatedly denied any contact with the attorney.

“Did you inquire when it was that I first asked her to undertake unnamed campaign tasks, as she alleged happened in the years before 2001?” Rove asks in the letter to Abrams.

“Did you inquire when and where her supposed 2001 meeting with me took place at which she was asked to follow Siegelman and photograph him? If so, did you make any effort to see if she could document the claim?”

Simpson has testified twice to the House Judiciary Committee.

A report was released Thursday detailing her testimony as well as other evidence the committee has gathered.

In a letter to Rove notifying him of the release of the report, Chairman John Conyers (D-Mich.) says Simpson