Speaker of Alabama House arrested on Corruption Charges 

Michael G. Hubbard was charged with 23 felony counts, including voting for legislation in which he had a conflict of interest and using his public office for personal gain.

The speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives, Michael G. Hubbard, was arrested Monday on 23 felony charges amid an extended inquiry into Montgomery’s political machinations.

Mr. Hubbard condemned the prosecution as “politics at its worst.” He was charged with crimes that included voting for legislation in which he had a conflict of interest and using his public office for personal gain.

The indictment, filed in Lee County Circuit Court, accuses Mr. Hubbard of soliciting or engaging in corrupt dealings with some of Alabama’s most influential figures, including a former governor, Bob Riley, as well as several leading businessmen. Mr. Hubbard, who was first elected to the Legislature in 1998, was the only person arrested Monday.

The indictment also accuses Mr. Hubbard of improperly lobbying the Alabama Department of Commerce and the governor’s office, and of using his tenure as chairman of the Alabama Republican Party for personal gain.

“If there was any doubt by anybody that this is a political witch hunt, it became crystal clear today when these allegations were brought two weeks before an election,” Mr. Hubbard said in a statement. His lawyer described the authorities as “rogue prosecutors.”

Mr. Hubbard’s indictment instantly rattled a political scene that has become accustomed to public corruption prosecutions at the state and local levels.

“What it shows,” Professor Stewart said, “is that you can change parties, in terms of which party supposedly dominates state government, but you can’t change the culture of the state.”

Source: NYT- Speaker of Alabama House arrested on Corruption Charges

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