Mike Hubbard finishes testimony in his own ethics trial

1
19
Mike Hubbard stands trial day one
Alabama speaker Mike Hubbard stands in Judge Jacob Walkers courtroom before the start of his ethics trial. [Photo Credit: AP, Pool | Todd Van Emst]

The Latest on the ethics trial of Alabama House Speaker Mike Hubbard (all times local):

10:30 a.m.

Alabama House Speaker Mike Hubbard has finished testifying in his ethics trial.

Prosecutor Matt Hart on Thursday morning showed jurors an email that Hubbard sent to a Publix lobbyist trying to arrange for company executives to meet with a drinking cup manufacturer in his district. The email was signed, “speaker of the house” and did not disclose that a related company was also paying Hubbard $10,000-a-month.

Hubbard later explained it was an automatic signature generated by his email at his business, the Auburn Network. However, Hubbard’s defense took a stumble when he described the email as a request for advice to a longtime friend. Hubbard said the man recently died of an aneurysm.

However, Hart noted the man was still alive. Hubbard admitted he must have confused him with someone else.

___

5:24 a.m.

Alabama House Speaker Mike Hubbard is returning to the witness stand for the third day in his ethics trial.

A state prosecutor will resume his cross-examination of the Republican speaker Thursday morning. Prosecutor Matt Hart on Wednesday quizzed Hubbard on $2.3 million in contracts, party campaign business and investments his companies received. He also questioned Hubbard about an email he sent former Gov. Bob Riley, who is now a lobbyist, seeking employment help.

Hubbard faces 23 felony ethics charges accusing him of using his political positions as Speaker and party chair to make money and solicit jobs and financial favors from lobbyists. Hubbard has maintained his innocence and said he took precautions to obey the state ethics law.

Republished with permission of The Associated Press.

1 COMMENT

Comments are closed.