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Rumors have been circulating for some days about a grand jury investigation of Attorney General Troy King. Bob Gambacurta of the Montgomery Independent has has the skeleton of a story that leaves us wanting more. The Birmingham News has its story online here.
Some thoughts on the story…
- Why are some of these old matters being re-hashed now? Gifts from Alabama Power? Favors from Roy Johnson? Tony Castaldo? Re-assignment of security detail? These stories have been out there quite a while. Years in some cases. They may absolutely merit attention, but why not earlier?
- Why is not only Leura Canary, but the entire U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District, recusing itself?
- We’ve gotten indications that Alice Martin wants to stay on in her role of U.S. Attorney in the Northern District. Would King be a big enough fish to fry that she might stay on after all to see this investigation through?
- King’s Chief of Staff Chris Bence told the Birmingham News, “This is pretty much quite a shock. We are not aware that a grand jury of any kind was looking at anyone in our office.” But Gambacurta wrote:
When told of the evidence that had been gathered and that the grand jury was conducting an investigation and that he was the target, [King] responded, “Okay. I mean I have…okay,” and offered no further explanation.
Surely Bence had heard the rumors about the grand jury investigation (many others certainly had), the shock must be that they are apparently true.
- The part of the story that’s new to most of us? Questions about King’s relationship with gambling interests in the state.
We have the skeleton of the story; the grand jury may flesh it out for us.
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Re: recusal
The AGs office and the US Attorney’s office in Montgomery often work together on cases. The relationship between the two creates an automatic conflict. A conflict for one attorney in the firm (Canary) constitutes a conflict for the entire office (the Montgomery US Attorney office).
The recusal has nothing to do with the strength of the evidence.
Re: Riley letting gambling come to the state
Neither Riley NOR the AG let gambling come to the state. Indians (Native Americans) have special federal statutes that preclude them from being regulated by state governments. Riley was paid by the Mississippi Indians (gamblers) to fight lotteries and fight gambling interests. Riley’s protests are not working because the Indians are taking over.
In Alabama alone, there is Victoryland, 3 casinos in Wetumpka, a casino in shorter, and now a MEGA casino complex in Atmore. With the Casino in Atmore, there is really no need for Alabamians to go to Mississippi now to gamble. Riley made an empty promise to the Mississippians. He knew he couldn’t stop casinos in Alabama so he and Troy decided to go after Bingos.
The problem seems to be that Troy was after only certain bingo establishments while Riley was after all of them. Even if they stop bingo, you still have the casinos which aren’t going anywhere.
#29, reasons to vote on bingo now:
1. the state needs the money
2. the industry needs uniform regulation
3. the unemployed people of Alabama need the jobs
4. there will be no additional cost as it would be on the ballot in the 2010 primaries or general election
5. it seems to meet the standards for consideration as measured by the thousands of other amendments appearing on prior ballots
6. the state faces a constitutional crisis with the Gov and AG locked in a dispute over the issue
7. Polls show a majority of the people support the idea
8. the people of Alabama have approved 18 or so bingo amendments with 674 being approved in a statewide ballot
9. it will make the Gov and State party look bad after threatening to censure there members if they vote for it
I dont know what asshole published sarah kate’s number but danny would you get her cell number the hell off the parlor?
Re: Security detail and other wrong doing
Troy King has committed many ethics violation while in office. A public official cannot use his PUBLIC office for PERSONAL gain.
(1)Troy King used his office to obtain box seats at a baseball game. This gift also created a conflict since he is suppose to represent the PEOPLE in matters concerning Alabama Power.
(2)Troy King used his security detail to allegedly go see George Jones somewhere (TN I think).
(3)Troy King has used his office to reward or encourage boys to be his friends/associates – i.e., J.W. (the homecoming king), the young boys he has made heads of various departments in his office, etc..
(4)Troy King has used his office to reward or benefit his friends, i.e, he gave Troy’s president’s daughter a job as head of a department right out of lawschool; he also rewarded Troy’s homecoming King (J.W.) with a $58K job right out of undergrad
(5)Troy King used his office to obtain favors for his friends/associates, i.e, while investigating Roy Johnson for giving friends jobs–he asked for his friend’s mother (Marc Bass) to be given a job. As a result of this request, the entire AG office had to stop investigating the 2-year college scandal
(6)Troy King has used his office to seek revenge on those he believes have wronged him:
(a) He investigated a bessemer judge who ruled against him; he had the judge indicted and the indictment was later dismissed
(b) He had his investigator lie and then had him prosecuted for perjury; the guy was later acquitted
(c) He allegedly tried to dig up dirt on Tyson using the investigators in his office
(d) He allegedly had someone against Stan Pate investigated
(e) He fired any investigator that refused to do any of his dirty dealings
(f) He used his office to issue opinions that would benefit his political friends and hurt his political foes
Re: Rehashing
Remember the Siegleman case… each event can constitute a separate count of a criminal indictment. Each criminal act by King constitutes evidence that he used his office for personal gain. This is not rehashing, but informing the public of POSSIBLE reasons why he is being indicted.
Re: the whole US Attorney office recusing
During the Scrushy/Siegleman case, the entire US Attorney’s office in Montgomery was suppose to recuse. Canary, however, assured the court that she wouldn’t be involved in the case. It was later disclosed that she was heavily involved in the case. The way conflicts work is this: conflict for ONE/conflict for all. It was proper for another US Attorney’s office to take the case.
As for Martin, I agree that she or her staff are not good prosecutors. They should have won the Scrushy case.
55, Sounds like the Governor and AG have a lot in common.
I don’t know much about Riley, but if he is doing the same thing I wonder will they go after him. Remember, they are going after Troy because they are claiming he is doing the same stuff Siegleman did during his political career.
Look at this, folks:
http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Alabama_Attorney_General_under_federal_investigation_0310.html
It’s spreading, Troy.