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public corruption

Lee County DA Brandon Hughes pleads guilty to two counts

Pursuant to the plea agreement, Hughes has agreed to a three-year sentence for both counts, split to serve 10 months in jail.
June 25, 2021

Montgomery’s new panhandling law is cruel, misguided and probably unconstitutional

Lock ‘em up! That seems to be Alabama’s answer to every problem. Well, every problem but public corruption, in which case we find every possible reason not to lock ‘em up, even when we’ve determined they’re guilty as sin.  But if you’re not wearing a suit and tie and hobnobbing with bigwigs, watch out. Because … Continued
July 8, 2019

Pickens County Sheriff to plead guilty to wire fraud and tax charges

Friday a federal indictment was unsealed against Pickens County Sheriff David Eugene Abston (R). Also that same day a plea agreement was filed and Abston resigned as Sheriff after forty years in law enforcement. The federal indictments for wire fraud and filing false tax returns were announced U.S. Attorney Jay E. Town, FBI Special Agent … Continued
June 14, 2019

Former Washington County revenue commissioner indicted

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall announced Wednesday the arrest of Laura Lee (Lewis) Taylor, a former Washington County revenue commissioner and former treasurer of the Public Park and Recreation Board of Washington County. Taylor, 68, is charged with 26 felonies, including first-degree theft of property, identity theft, second-degree criminal possession of forged instruments and attempt … Continued
May 17, 2019

Alabama Supreme Court to hear oral arguments in Hubbard appeal

In yet another surprise move, the Alabama Supreme Court has decided to hear oral arguments in the public corruption appeal of former Alabama House Speaker Mike Hubbard. Oral arguments will be June 4, the court said. Hubbard was convicted in 2016 on 12 felony violations of the Alabama ethics code — mostly for using his … Continued
May 3, 2019

Alabama Supreme Court to hear Hubbard’s appeal; there is cause for concern

Warning sirens sounded throughout the political and legal communities when, on Monday, the Alabama Supreme Court granted former Speaker of the House Mike Hubbard a hearing on his 11 counts of felony public corruption conviction. It may be just that in such a high profile case with great public interest that the court felt it … Continued
March 13, 2019

Send Mike Hubbard to jail

It is often repeated that we are a nation of laws and not men. We are also told that the law trumps politics. Both of these statements are mere platitudes that most often only comfort those who indulge in the shameful practice of rank partisan power politics. Such bromides might sooth the conscience of those … Continued
February 14, 2019