Ethics director: “We don’t disqualify anybody”
When Mike Matthews, an incumbent Republican candidate, was removed from the ballot due to a technical error, he cried foul.
ethics commission
State settles Craig Pouncey defamation suit against Mary Scott Hunter
A defamation suit filed by Pouncey against former school board member Mary Scott Hunter was recently settled with Pouncey being awarded $100,000 by the state.
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See recent postsPerspective | Can the Legislature write a stronger, clearer and enforceable ethics code? There’s a way
When the cell door closed behind former Alabama Speaker of the House Mike Hubbard at 5:05 p.m. on Friday, Sept 11, 2020, there was a momentary sign of victory, but also a chill braced the state’s political landscape. What happens next will be most consequential as the Alabama Supreme Court, and to a lesser degree … Continued
Ethics lawyer draws heat in hearing for Trump’s former regional EPA director, associate
In early May, defense attorneys presented evidence they say that shows Ethics Commission lawyers engaged in selective and vindictive prosecution when they sought indictments against Scott Phillips and Onis “Trey” Glenn III. The defense also argued before Jefferson County Circuit Court Judge Stephen Wallace that the commission had violated the men’s right to due process. … Continued
Merrill announces new general counsel for Secretary of State’s office
Alabama Secretary of State John H. Merrill announced Monday that Hugh Evans has now transitioned to general counsel for the Secretary of State’s office. Merrill said he is excited by the move and that Evans will be a valuable resource for the people of this state in areas like campaign finance review and investigation, voter … Continued
Claims of selective prosecution, a new attorney roil case against former Trump EPA administrator
A series of defense motions filed in Jefferson County court early this morning ask that charges against Scott Phillips and Onis “Trey” Glenn III be dismissed. Glenn, until his indictment in November, served as President Donald Trump’s Southeast EPA administrator. Phillips is a former Alabama Environmental Management commissioner. Both men, according to a statement from … Continued
Nine stories to keep an eye on in 2019
9. Who will challenge Sen. Doug Jones in 2020? It may have been only a year ago that Doug Jones won in a historic victory that sent a Democrat from Alabama to the U.S. Senate for the first time in a quarter century, but he’s up for re-election in 2020. With that election just around the corner, … Continued
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See recent postsIvey righted the ship of state; now it is time to steer it audaciously
When Gov. Kay Ivey took the helm as Alabama’s 54th Governor, she promised to steady the ship of state. Over the last 622 days, she kept that promise. Gov. Ivey is signaling that she wants to tackle systemic problems that have been bandaged or ignored by her predecessors. Aided by a competent staff, Ivey’s administration … Continued
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See recent postsAn ethics-less day at the Alabama “ethics” commission
Alabama does not have an ethics commission. Oh, sure, there’s a group of people who meet once per month in a room in Montgomery, and the sign out front reads “Alabama Ethics Commission,” but trust me, they’re not. Because an ethics commission — a real one — has one primary goal: To uphold the ethics … Continued
Secretary of State initiates legal action to recover unpaid campaign finance fines
The Secretary of State’s Office has begun legal action to recover unpaid campaign finance fines incurred by political action committees and candidate committees during the 2018 election cycle, Secretary of State John Merrill said Tuesday. The Secretary’s office has issued 1,180 penalties over the course of the election cycle for a total amount of $201,893.28. … Continued