Josh Moon

Merrill and APR columnist dispute over voter ID laws

Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill and Alabama Political Reporter investigative reporter and featured columnist Josh Moon continue to trade words on Alabama photo ID laws. In an op-ed published on July 31, Moon claimed voter ID laws “disproportionately impose hardships on those minorities being able to cast votes. Merrill issued a response later that … Continued

August 7, 2019

Merrill responds to APR Op-Ed on voter ID laws

Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill issued a statement yesterday responding to a recent op-ed from Alabama Political Reporter investigative reporter and featured columnist Josh Moon titled “Voter ID laws burden minority voters, have zero effect on fraud.” Moon’s op-ed on Wednesday claimed voter ID laws “disproportionately impose hardships on those minorities being able to … Continued

August 1, 2019

Jefferson County indictments raise serious questions about Ethics Commission’s actions

When indictments were reported by Al.com against Scott Phillips and Onis “Trey” Glenn III for multiple violations of the Alabama Ethics Act, the pair had not been arrested or served with the indictments. However, Alabama Ethics Commission Executive Director Tom Albritton spoke in glowing terms about the hard work his office and the Jefferson County … Continued

November 14, 2018

Comforting the afflicted, afflicting the comfortable

One of the fundamental goals of journalism is to see things as they are and to report them accurately. Conversely, one of journalism’s greatest failures is to see a story through a particular ideological prism which renders the reporting inaccurate. While point-of-view commentary can be part of an editorial’s framework, it should be based in … Continued

October 29, 2018

Terminal corruption and its accomplices

There is at present a deliberate, brazen unraveling of the Republican’s signature 2010 legislation on ethics. Bastardization of the laws are not only happening at the so-called Alabama Ethics and Reform and Clarification Commission, but it’s also taking place at the state’s Ethics Commission where a group of appointed individuals are interpreting ethics and campaign … Continued

October 8, 2018

The duty of the voter

Now that Labor Day is behind us, the political campaigns for November’s General Election are in full swing. Or should be. While polls indicate Democrats likely will take back the U.S. House of Representatives, nothing is certain. It depends on which side can get out their voters. In Alabama, these “midterm” elections are always a … Continued

September 6, 2018

Toe the lie, err, line, or get out of it

Earlier this year, I was on a panel for a debate of gubernatorial candidates at Alabama Boys State’s annual meeting at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. One night, the GOP candidates debated; the next night, the Democratic Candidates debated. Only two Republicans showed up; all of the active Democrats were there. Whatever you think … Continued

August 9, 2018

Hubbard lawyer says Gov. Ivey has a job for him

An attorney for former Speaker and convicted felon Mike Hubbard is pushing for Gov. Kay Ivey to appoint him St. Clair County District Attorney, and he is telling people that Hubbard’s good friend and Ivey donor, businessman Jimmy Rane, is going to make it happen. Lance Bell is a small-town lawyer based in Pell City … Continued

July 19, 2018

Trump-bashing attorney represents AG Marshall’s mega donor in lawsuit

As if the attorney general’s race couldn’t become more bizarre, enter Washington, D.C. election lawyer Charlie Spies, who is defending appointed Attorney General Steve Marshall’s PAC contributions from the Republican Attorney Generals Association (RAGA). Spies is best known for his epic troll of then-candidate Donald Trump when he represented failed GOP presidential candidate and Never-Trumper … Continued

July 12, 2018

Roy Moore: Carrying sore loser to the extreme

Attorney Paula Cobia was succinct in describing disgraced former Chief Justice Roy Moore’s defamation and conspiracy lawsuit filed this week against four women who accused him of molesting or harassing them and a man Moore claims has a vendetta against him. “It’s a garbage complaint,” Cobia said in a telephone interview. Cobia represents one of … Continued

May 3, 2018