Ethics Commission clears Rebekah Mason in Jim Zeigler complaint
The former Senior Policy Adviser and alleged mistress of former-Gov. Robert Bentley was cleared Thursday by the Alabama Ethics Commission against accusations brought forth by State Auditor Jim Zeigler. Zeigler had named Mason in a complaint filed March 25, 2016 with the Ethics Commission, which according to Zeigler, launched a year-long investigation that ultimately resulted in finding probable cause Bentley violated state law. Zeigler reportedly included in his complaint the allegation that Bentley and Mason set up a “dark money” group to receive funds from unknown donors and spend it without accountability. Named among the group’s donors was ACEGOV, the Alabama Council for Excellent Government, a nonprofit founded by Bentley, which partially paid Mason. On April 5, the Ethics Commission met and held ten hours of hearings on complaints against Bentley and Mason, in which they were unable to prove Mason was guilty of an ethics violation. The Commission concluded, upon review of the evidence from the investigation, that there was not probable cause to believe that Rebekah Caldwell Mason committed a violation of the Alabama Ethics Act. Accordingly, your complaint has been dismissed. Should you provide any additional information that would warrant a reopening of this case, a new investigation would be conducted. Zeigler says he now looking to see if other options are available to continue to the investigation. Read the full letter from the Ethics Commission below:
Democrats pressure Donald Trump to keep national monuments
Western Democrats are pressuring President Donald Trump not to rescind land protections put in place by President Barack Obama, including Utah’s Bears Ears National Monument. Obama infuriated Utah Republicans when he created the monument in late December on 1.3 million acres of land that is sacred to Native Americans and home to tens of thousands of archaeological sites, including ancient cliff dwellings. Republicans have asked Trump to take the unusual step of reversing the designation, saying it will add another layer of unnecessary federal control and close the area to new energy development. In a letter this week, nine Western Democratic senators wrote Trump to say that weakening protections for Bears Ears or any other national monument would be a direct affront to local communities and stakeholders. “This is especially true in the case of Bears Ears National Monument, for the Native American tribes who call this living cultural landscape their ancestral home,” the senators wrote. The White House has said it is reviewing the decisions by the Obama administration to determine economic impacts, whether the law was followed and whether there was appropriate consultation with local officials. In an ongoing back-and-forth with Republicans over the monument, Democrats on the House Natural Resources Committee released documents Thursday to try to bolster their argument that there was adequate consultation. The documents from Arizona Rep. Raul Grijalva, the senior Democrat on the panel, detail repeated phone calls and visits between the Obama administration and Utah’s congressional delegation and governor. The emails show that Utah officials hoped to work with the federal government on the issue before Obama designated the monument in the final days of his administration on Dec. 28. In an email on Dec. 21, as state officials grew increasingly concerned that the designation was coming, a member of Utah Gov. Gary Herbert‘s staff wrote an Interior Department official and thanked her for her time. “I’m not kidding when I say you’re an amazing example of a public servant,” wrote Herbert’s director of federal affairs, whose name was blacked out in the emails. Democrats said the back-and-forth showed collaboration. “If anyone wants to paint Bears Ears National Monument as a surprise or the product of rushed or incomplete planning, they’ll have to explain hundreds of emails and dozens of pages of shared work product,” Grijalva said. A spokeswoman for House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Rob Bishop, R-Utah, fired back. The spokeswoman, Molly Block, said that releasing the documents was a “desperate attempt to create a façade of local support.” When the designation was announced, Republicans in the state said it was an egregious abuse of executive power. It was opposed by the governor and the entire congressional delegation, in addition to many local residents. Herbert said then that the designation “violated assurances made by (Obama’s) interior secretary to take into account local concerns before making a monument designation.” In his January confirmation hearing, incoming Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke told senators that the president would probably be challenged in court if he tried to nullify a monument, and he would prefer to work with the state. Republished with permission of The Associated Press.
Taylor Dawson: It’s time to call for recall in Alabama
Looking back on the last few days of Governor Robert Bentley‘s s now-infamous administration, I can’t help but think, “It never should have gotten this far.” But it did. At least part of that should be credited to the fact he knew there wasn’t anything the people of Alabama could do to him politically once he won his second term in office. Bentley’s pride was unflagging even during his farewell speech. As a result, Alabamians’ already-damaged trust in state government took a nosedive over the last year. Recall is a simple idea. An elected official behaves in such a manner that he or she can no longer uphold the requirements of the office. A group of voters initiate a petition to get that official’s name on a special-election ballot to be “recalled” from office. If enough signatures are collected, voters head to the polls and either vote “yes” or “no” to having the official removed from his or her post. If you’re looking for a recall law in Alabama, look no further than Dothan (Ala. Code § 11-44E-168). Literally, look no further. The citizens of Dothan can recall their officials. Nobody else in the state can. Representative Will Ainsworth attempted to remedy this problem last year with HB 501, which would have established a recall process in Alabama. It passed out of House committee but never received a floor vote in the House. Imagine that–legislators won’t bring a bill to the floor that would provide a mechanism to hold them accountable to voters throughout their terms. Most recall legislation, including the legislation that was proposed in Alabama last session, requires a high threshold to initiate the recall process, an even higher voter threshold to have the official recalled, and oversight throughout by the Secretary of State. Rest assured, this is not something that can happen on a whim. Of the nineteen states that do have recall provisions, most of them allow for recall of any elected official–including state legislators–only making an exception for members of the judiciary. Alabama doesn’t necessarily have to go that far. At the very least, Alabama should have a provision that allows voters to recall an official who was elected statewide (governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, etc.). Bentley has demonstrated, single-handedly, why we need a recall process. Do any of us really want to go through another season of watching a politician unable to serve because of a personal scandal? When Alabamians put our trust in an elected official, we need to have accountability tools available more often than every four years. We can talk about the negative impacts of Bentley’s yearlong distraction, or we can insist on being able to do something about it in the future. ••• Taylor Dawson is Communications Director for the Alabama Policy Institute (API). API is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit research and educational organization dedicated to the preservation of free markets, limited government, and strong families. If you would like to speak with the author, please e-mail communications@alabamapolicy.org or call (205) 870-9900.
Kay Ivey makes first two major staff appointments
Gov. Kay Ivey announced Thursday the first two of her major staff appointments — her Chief of Staff and Press Secretary. Steve Pelham, who had served as Ivey’s chief of staff while she was Lieutenant Governor dating back to 2010, will continue in the role in the Governor’s office. He has more than twenty years of experience serving members of Congress in both Washington and Alabama. In his new role, Pelham will be charged with leading Ivey’s staff as they steady the ship of state, improve Alabama’s image, and create more opportunities for all Alabamians. Eileen Jones, a veteran political reporter for WSFA, will serve as Press Secretary. In her 18 years at WSFA, Jones was known for holding politicians and other news makers accountable. As Press Secretary, she will work closely with members of the media to ensure that the Ivey Administration is as transparent as possible and that they have access to the governor. “Government transparency and efficiency start with a trustworthy team. Steve Pelham and Eileen Jones fully fit this bill,” Ivey said. “They are also only the start as the Ivey administration staffs up to restore Alabama’s image.” Ivey took office on Monday evening following Robert Bentley‘s resignation. More appointments are expected as Ivey further staffs her new office.
Good news, procrastinators: Tax deadline pushed to Tuesday
Hey, procrastinators: Don’t freak out if you haven’t finished your taxes. The IRS is giving you a reprieve until Tuesday. The usual April 15 deadline falls on Saturday this year. That would normally push the deadline to Monday. However, Monday is a holiday in the District of Columbia, so by law, the filing deadline is extended until Tuesday. Monday is Emancipation Day in the District of Columbia. It marks the day in 1862 in which 3,100 slaves living in Washington were freed. All the states that usually have an April 15 deadline have delayed their filing date as well. A handful of states have later deadlines. The IRS has already processed 101 million individual returns and has issued $229 billion in refunds. The average refund is $2,851. The tax agency said Thursday that nearly 40 million taxpayers have yet to file their returns. Taxpayers can request an automatic six-month extension. But there is no extension for paying your tax bill. If you owe additional taxes, they are still due Tuesday. “With the tax deadline approaching, taxpayers shouldn’t panic. The IRS has many options available to help people as they finalize their tax returns or if they need to get extra time to file,” said IRS Commissioner John Koskinen. As last-minute filers rush to finish their taxes, their chances of getting audited have rarely been lower. The number of people audited by the IRS in 2016 dropped for the sixth straight year, to just over 1 million. The last time so few people were audited was 2004. Since then, the U.S. has added about 30 million people. The IRS blames budget cuts as money for the agency shrunk from $12.2 billion in 2010 to $11.2 billion last year. Over that period, the agency has lost more than 17,000 employees, including nearly 7,000 enforcement agents. About 80,000 people work at the IRS. In 2016, the number of people audited by the IRS dropped by 16 percent from the year before. Just 0.7 percent of individuals were audited, either in person or by mail. That’s the lowest audit rate since 2003. The higher your income, the more likely you are to be audited. The IRS audited 1.7 percent of returns that reported more than $200,000 in income. Agents audited 5.8 percent of returns that reported more than $1 million in income. Both audit rates were steep declines from the year before. Republished with permission of The Associated Press.
Donald Trump boasts of hiring only the best, but picks haunt him
President Donald Trump likes to boast that he hires only the best people. But his personnel choices keep coming back to haunt him. One of the people Trump hired for the White House was working as a foreign agent while advising him during the election. His campaign chairman caught the Justice Department’s attention for similarly surreptitious work. And a third campaign adviser was reportedly surveilled by the FBI as part of an investigation into whether or not he was a Russian spy. The tales of Michael Flynn, Paul Manafort and Carter Page — none of whom still work for Trump — have created a steady drip of allegations that have clouded Trump’s early presidency and raised persistent questions about his judgment. At worst, Trump’s personnel picks appear to have left his campaign — and perhaps his White House — vulnerable to the influence of foreign powers. At best, they expose the long-term implications of his understaffed and inexperienced campaign organization and undermine his promises to surround himself with top-notch talent. “Vetting new hires is standard procedure for presidential campaigns for exactly this reason,” said Alex Conant, who advised Sen. Marco Rubio‘s 2016 presidential campaign. “Every employee is also a potential liability on a presidential campaign.” During the campaign, Trump said he hired “top, top people” and would fill his administration “with only the best and most serious people.” Yet Manafort, Flynn and Page have indeed become political liabilities for Trump that he can’t shake in the White House. All three are being scrutinized as part of the FBI and congressional investigations into whether Trump associates helped Russia meddle in the 2016 election. The president has denied any nefarious ties to Russia and says he has no knowledge that his advisers were working with Moscow during the election. The president’s culpability appears greatest with Flynn, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant general who traveled with Trump frequently during the campaign and was tapped as national security adviser after the election. Flynn had been lobbying for a company with ties to Turkey during the 2016 election and even wrote an editorial on behalf of his client that was published on Election Day. “No one expects them to do the equivalent of an FBI background check, but a simple Google search could have solved a lot of these problems,” Dan Pfeiffer, who served as senior adviser to President Barack Obama, said of Trump’s team. After Trump’s victory, Flynn’s lawyers alerted the transition team that he may have to register as a lobbying for a foreign entity, according to a person with knowledge of those discussions. The White House hired him anyway. After the inauguration, Flynn’s lawyers told the White House counsel’s office that the national security adviser would indeed have to move forward with that filing. Flynn was fired in February after the White House said he misled Vice President Mike Pence and other top officials about his conversations with Russia’s ambassador to the United States. Lobbying for foreign interests is legal and lucrative. Both Republican and Democratic operatives offer their services to overseas clients. But the Justice Department requires Americans working on behalf of foreign interests to register, disclosing the nature of their work, the foreigners they dealt with and the amount of money they made. Willful failure to register for foreign lobbying work can carry up to a five-year prison sentence, but the Justice Department rarely brings criminal charges and instead urges violators to register. On Wednesday, a spokesman for former Trump campaign chairman Manafort said that he, too, under pressure from the Justice Department, would formally file for prior foreign lobbying. Manafort’s work for political interests in Ukraine occurred before he was hired as Trump’s campaign chairman, spokesman Jason Maloni said, though the U.S. government raised questions about his activities after he was hired by Trump. Manafort was pushed out of Trump’s campaign in August after The Associated Press reported that his consulting firm had orchestrated a covert Washington lobbying operation on behalf of Ukraine’s ruling political party without disclosing that work to the U.S. government. The White House did not respond to questions Wednesday about when Trump learned about Manafort’s foreign lobbying work and his discussions with the U.S. government about registering as a foreign agent. The questions surrounding Page are perhaps the most serious. On Tuesday, The Washington Post reported that the Justice Department obtained a highly secretive warrant to monitor his communications because there was reason to believe he was working as a Russian spy. In March, Trump personally announced Page as part of a newly minted foreign policy advisory team. But as questions began swirling about Page’s ties to Russia, the campaign started moving away from the little-known investment banker. Trump has since said he has no relationship with him. The New York Times reported Wednesday that the Justice Department only obtained the warrant after the campaign distanced itself from Page. In an interview Thursday with ABC’s “Good Morning America,” Page described his affiliation with the Trump campaign as having served as “an informal member of a committee which was put together — a team of individuals who were looking at various foreign policy issues.” Chris Ashby, a Republican elections lawyer, said that while it’s easy to blame Trump for missing red flags about his campaign advisers, it’s not always possible to dig up details that potential hires aren’t willing to disclose on their own. “In the ideal world, you could rely on paid background checks, but you’d have to have the money and the time,” Ashby said. “The farther down the ranks you go and certainly when you reach the ranks of unpaid advisers, that becomes impractical.” Republished with permission of The Associated Press.
Who’s who: Trump aides, associates drawing attention
A number of President Donald Trump‘s top and former aides have received unwanted attention in recent days as they struggle with internal divisions, poorly worded comments and investigation revelations. Here’s a rundown of who’s who for those trying to keep track: STEPHEN BANNON Trump’s chief strategist and senior counselor has been the target of the left since he formally joined Trump’s campaign, thanks to the far-right views of the website he used to run, Breitbart News. In an interview with the New York Post this week, Trump appeared to distance himself from Bannon, the chief architect of several major administration policies, including Trump’s stalled travel bans. In the interview, Trump downplayed Bannon’s role in his campaign, claiming that his chief strategist was not involved “until very late.” That’s despite the fact that Bannon took over as the campaign’s CEO in August of last year. Trump’s early months in office have been filled with infighting between his aides. “Steve is a good guy,” Trump told the Post, but cautioned that if the infighting doesn’t stop, he’ll intervene. It was a rare public warning shot heard across Washington. ___ SEAN SPICER The White House press secretary is one of the most visible faces of Trump’s administration. His daily on-camera briefings have become must-see-TV for large swaths of the nation, and he has been repeatedly parodied on shows like “Saturday Night Live.” But Spicer has spent the last 24 hours on an apology tour, after he claimed that Adolf Hitler “didn’t even sink to using chemical weapons.” Critics noted the remark ignored Hitler’s use of gas chambers to exterminate Jews during the Holocaust. The comment marked the second time in as many days that Spicer appeared to struggle to articulate the president’s foreign policy at a critical time. The day before, he suggested that the use of barrel bombs by Syrian President Bashar Assad‘s government might lead to further military action. A White House spokesman later walked back the comment, saying the U.S. position hadn’t changed. Spicer has called his comments about the Holocaust “inappropriate and insensitive.” ___ PAUL MANAFORT Trump’s former campaign chairman’s foreign consulting work has become a headache for the White House. A Manafort spokesman said Wednesday Manafort would be registering as a foreign lobbyist. The spokesman says Manafort’s lobbying work was not conducted on behalf of the Russian government and began before Manafort started working with the Trump campaign. It’s unclear whether Trump was aware that Manafort was in talks with the government about registering before he hired him. Before taking over Trump’s campaign last May, Manafort worked for a slew of foreign clients, including a pro-Russian political party in Ukraine and Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska. In 2005, he proposed an ambitious plan to promote the interests of “the Putin government” and undermine anti-Russian opposition across former Soviet republics, the Associated Press has reported. The AP also reported Wednesday that at least $1.2 million in payments listed in a handwritten ledger in Ukraine as paid to Manafort were received by his U.S. consulting firm. Manafort has denied any wrongdoing and the White House has tried to downplay Trump’s connections to Manafort, wrongly stating that he played only a “limited role” in Trump’s campaign. ___ CARTER PAGE Page was a little-known critic of the U.S policy toward Russia when he was tapped by Trump to serve as one of a handful of foreign policy advisers. It remains unclear how exactly the two met and what Page’s role actually entailed. But Page is now known to be the focus of a federal investigation of Trump’s campaign ties to Russia. The FBI obtained a secret court order last summer to monitor Page’s communications because the government had reason to believe Page was acting as a Russian agent, The Washington Post reported Tuesday. Page also met with a Russian intelligence operative in 2013 and provided him documents about the energy industry, according to court documents from a 2015 prosecution alleging a Cold War-style spy ring in New York. Page was not accused of wrongdoing related to the case and said in a statement that he shared “basic immaterial information” and publicly available research documents. A former Merrill Lynch investment banker, Page worked out of the company’s Moscow office for three years. He now runs Global Energy Capital, a firm described as focused on energy sectors in emerging markets. ___ MICHAEL FLYNN Trump’s former national security adviser, Flynn was ousted in February for misleading Vice President Mike Pence about the nature his communications with Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak, the White House said. Flynn was interviewed by the FBI in the early days of the Trump administration about the conversations and his ties to Russia are currently under investigation. He and his firm also recently registered with the Justice Department as foreign agents for lobbying work conducted on behalf of a company owned by a Turkish businessman. A staunch early Trump supporter, Flynn is a retired United States Army lieutenant general and was the former director of the Defense Intelligence Agency. Republished with permission of The Associated Press.
Daniel Sutter: Score one for juries
Alabama is currently the only state which allows judges to impose a death sentence over the decision of the jury. This is changing, as the legislature has passed a bill ending Alabama’s death penalty judicial override. This change is consistent with the role juries have historically played in protecting individual freedom. Death penalty cases proceed in two phases. First, evidence is presented and the jury determines guilt. A guilty verdict on the death penalty eligible offense triggers the penalty phase, where the jury decides on death or life in prison. Alabama judges have been able to impose the death penalty when the jury decided on a life sentence, or a life sentence instead of death. Overrides have imposed a death sentence about ten times more often than they have spared a defendant. What is wrong with judges overriding the jury? After all, judges normally impose sentences after a conviction. Judges could well apply the death penalty more consistently. Jurors typically will only know the facts of the case they hear, and may be unaware of sentences handed down in similar cases. I see two problems with the judicial override, one related to judges’ incentives and the other related to juries’ role in limiting government. Alabama elects judges, so the judges with override power must run for reelection. In principle elections make judges (and other government officials) do what we want, but reality is more nuanced. Elections are decided by the citizens who vote, and voters are never perfectly informed. Most of us value justice and dislike crime, so we like judges who are tough on crime without violating the law. Overrides to impose the death penalty allow judges to show how tough they are on criminals. Whether an override furthers justice is a harder question. The citizens on the jury have heard all the evidence and evaluated the credibility of all the witnesses. Their informed, considered decision was for a life sentence. That a judge imposed the death penalty in a murder case will influence far more votes than the subtleties relevant to know if this sentence served justice. Judicial override undermines the jury’s protection against government overreach. The right to a trial by a jury of one’s peers emerged in England to limit the power of kings. English common law holds that the law prescribes rules people should follow to live in peace and exists prior to the establishment of government. Common law is consistent with the view that governments exist to serve citizens. America’s founders brought this common law, limited government heritage to our shores. Limited government emerged in England against a historical backdrop of absolute monarchs. The kings wanted their word to be law, while the common law regulates the affairs of free people. The kings wanted to use law to control people, while free Englishmen were only supposed to be punished for criminal actions. This created a tension. The right to trial by a jury limits the government. The king might want to jail or execute a political opponent. But before punishment can be imposed, a jury of other citizens must be convinced with evidence of a crime. The principle of double jeopardy is closely tied to trial by jury, since this prevents presenting the evidence to juries until one delivers the desired guilty verdict. Many luminaries have recognized this crucial role of juries. English jurist William Blackstone called juries “the grand bulwark of all liberty.” Thomas Jefferson saw juries “as the only anchor ever imagined by man, by which a government can be held to the principles of its constitution.” James Madison, the Father of the U.S. Constitution, thought that the jury trial was its grandest measure protecting freedom. Constitutional rules help ensure that governments serve the interests of the people. Allowing only juries to determine criminal punishment is a vital constitutional rule. The question of capital punishment deeply divides Americans. If this ultimate punishment is ever justified, we the people should have the final say, and so eliminating Alabama’s judicial death penalty override is a change for the better. ••• Daniel Sutter is the Charles G. Koch Professor of Economics with the Manuel H. Johnson Center for Political Economy at Troy University and host of Econversations on TrojanVision. The opinions expressed in this column are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the views of Troy University.
Only 2 members of Alabama’s congressional delegation hosting town halls during Easter break
Members of the U.S. House of Representatives are currently in the middle of a two and half week Easter recess. In the past, during similar breaks from D.C., members would fill their schedules with town hall meetings with constituents. But not this time. As of Wednesday, most members of Alabama’s congressional delegation don’t have any town halls scheduled over their break that began on Monday. Five of Alabama’s seven Congressional members are following a national trend — avoiding town halls altogether. Perhaps to avoid the ire of the failed health care vote, or possible backlash from President Donald Trump‘s decision to airstrike Syria, but regardless of reason 2nd District Rep. Martha Roby, 3rd District Rep. Mike Rogers, 4th District Rep. Robert Aderholt and 5th District Rep. Mo Brooks don’t have any town halls scheduled on their websites this break. But that doesn’t mean they’re not working. Many will spend the break meeting with constituents and visiting local businesses across their districts. 7th District Rep. Terri Sewell is not hosting any events this break as she mourns the loss of her beloved father, legendary Selma High Basketball Coach Andrew A. Sewell. “My father was a devoted husband, a wonderful father, grandfather, brother, teacher, basketball coach and mentor to thousands of young people during his 36 year career as a coach and teacher,” said Sewell. “As the Head Basketball Coach at Selma High, Coach Sewell led the Selma Saints to Area or State Playoffs 12 out of 19 years including two state runner-up finishes and two third place finishes in the Alabama Class 6-A High School state tournaments. Despite a series of strokes from 1988 to 2003, my father continued to live life with the same strength, grit and determination that he demanded of his players. We are so proud of his extraordinary life of exemplary sportsmanship and we are comforted by the knowledge that his legacy will live on in the many lives that he touched. “ As for those brave enough to host town halls, only 1st District U.S. Rep. Bradley Bryne and 6th District U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer are willing to take on constituent questions and feedback head-on this Easter break. At their respective town hall events, which are free and open to the public, the representatives will take questions and address important issues that face Alabamians. See below for the dates, times and locations: Alabama 1st District U.S. Rep. Bradley Bryne is hosting a whopping 11 town halls during the break. “Over the week of April 17th, I will be holding eleven town hall meetings in four days with stops in each of the counties that make up Alabama’s First Congressional District,” said Byrne. Wilmer Town Hall Monday, April 17 at 1:30 p.m. Wilmer Senior Citizens Center 13251 Avenue B Wilmer, AL 36587 Stapleton Town Hall Monday, April 17 at 4:00 p.m. Stapleton Volunteer Fire Department 36578 AL-59 Stapleton, AL 36578 Satsuma Town Hall Tuesday, April 18 at 10:00 a.m. Satsuma City Hall 5464 Old Highway 43 Satsuma, AL 36572 Poarch Creek Town Hall Tuesday, April 18 at 2:30 pm. Tribal Council Chambers 5811 Jack Springs Road Atmore, AL 36502 Brewton Town Hall Tuesday, April 18 at 5:15 p.m. Brewton Community Center 1010A Douglas Avenue Brewton, AL 36426 Alabama Port Town Hall Wednesday, April 19 at 9:30 a.m. Alabama Port Volunteer Fire Department 3290 Highway 188 Coden, AL 36523 Daphne Port Town Hall Wednesday, April 19 at 2:00 p.m. Daphne City Hall 1708 Main Street Daphne, AL 36526 Foley Town Hall Wednesday, April 19 at 4:00 p.m. Foley City Hall 407 East Laurel Avenue Foley, AL 36535 Excel Town Hall Thursday, April 20 at 11:30 a.m. Excel Town Hall 3199 AL-136 Excel, AL 36439 Grove Hill Town Hall Thursday, April 20 at 2:00 p.m. Grove Hill Senior Center 113 Clark Street Grove Hill, AL 36451 Wagarville Town Hall Thursday, April 20 at 4:00 p.m. Wagarville Nutrition Center 27531 Highway 56 Wagarville, AL 36585 Alabama 6th District U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer: Chelsea Town Hall Tuesday, April 18 at 6 p.m. Chelsea Community Center 11101 Highway 47 Chelsea, AL 35043 Gardendale Town Hall Thursday, April 20 at 6:30 p.m. Gardendale Civic Center 857 Main Street Gardendale, AL 35071
Lawmakers OK subpoena power in impeachment cases
The next time an Alabama official faces impeachment, some lawmakers want the Legislature to have subpoena power — a question that wasn’t entirely clear during the recent investigation of former Gov. Robert Bentley. The Senate Judiciary Committee voted without dissent Wednesday to let lawmakers issue legally-enforceable subpoenas during impeachment proceedings. They’re trying to close a loophole that allowed former Bentley to avoid complying with a legislative investigation into whether he committed offenses that warranted his removal from office. The Senate bill’s sponsor said lawmakers could issue subpoenas in their investigation of Bentley but had no means to enforce their requests for documents or interviews. “Perhaps we could have issued a subpoena but someone could just as easily look at us and go ‘I don’t intend to do that,’” said Sen. Phil Williams, a Gadsden Republican. “And that could leave the proceedings somewhat feckless.” Lawmakers gave special counsel Jack Sharman subpoena power in an impeachment probe into the former governor but his subsequent report showed that Bentley and many other people refused to participate in the investigation. In an interview, Sharman said it’s “a good idea” to clarify lawmaker’s abilities during impeachment investigations. “There’s certainly good reason to make this explicit,” he said. “The governor has a constitutional duty to respond to the Legislature.” Bentley resigned Monday after pleading guilty to two misdemeanors related to campaign finance violations that came to light during an investigation of his alleged affair with a top aide. The bill now moves to the full Senate for a vote. Republished with permission of The Associated Press.
