AFRICA
Speaker of the Alabama House Michael G. Hubbard Convicted of 12 Felony Ethics Charges
This past Friday, June 10, momentous news rocked the waters of Alabama. Michael G. Hubbard, the 65th speaker of the Alabama State House of Representatives, was convicted of twelve felony ethics charges by an unyielding jury. He is to face significant time in prison – up to twenty years.
Nearly two years ago, the serious allegations were announced. In October 2014, Hubbard was accused of having “solicited work from registered lobbyists” years before. Altogether, the Speaker was indicted on 23 counts. Nearly immediately after the accusations that autumn nearly twenty months ago, Hubbard pleaded innocent. He and a team of lawyers claimed that he did nothing that would provoke legal action – the aforementioned lobbyists, according to Hubbard, were his dear friends.
“He just didn’t want to be held accountable to the law …” one of Hubbard’s prosecutors, Matt Hart, asserted during his opening statements. Hart went on to point out that the now convicted felon seemed to believe that he was above the law, and he abused the powers of his position. The prosecution had multiple eyewitnesses of Hubbard’s actions, while the defense’s only witness was Michael G. Hubbard himself. All the man had to say for himself was that he did his best with the house’s
At Lee County Circuit Court, the avid Republican will receive a formal sentencing in the upcoming weeks. Effective immediately, he will no longer hold his office. The jury charged Mr. Hubbard with contradicting the laws of ethics that he himself had gone to such lengths to fortify over his term as the speaker for the Alabama House.
Besides this obvious scandal, the state of Alabama and its government is going through some obvious turmoil. Figures such as Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court Roy S. Moore and Governor Robert Bentley are facing their own inquiries regarding separate indignities. Hopefully, the administration will be able to pull through with its head held high and dignified.
Featured Image via Associate Press