Alabama legislator Jack Williams, ex-GOP chair Marty Connors arrested on federal bribery charges
Vestavia Hills-Republican, longtime State Rep. Jack Williams, former Alabama Republican Party Chairman Martin “Marty” Connors, along with a California-based health care executive G. Ford Gilbert were arrested Monday on federal bribery charges. “Three individuals — two of whom reside in Alabama and one who resides in California — were arrested on charges stemming from their involvement in a public corruption scheme,” said United States Attorney Louis V. Franklin, Sr. in a press release. According to the indictment, Defendant Gilbert is the owner of a California company that operates diabetes treatment centers throughout the world—Trina Health, LLC (Trina Health). In 2014 and 2015, Trina Health opened three clinics in Alabama. Soon thereafter, the state’s largest health insurer, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama (a.k.a. Blue Cross), informed Trina Health that it would not cover the treatments provided by them. Gilbert then schemed to force Blue Cross to change its position. He came up with a plan to push a bill through the Alabama Legislature’s 2016 session that would require Blue Cross to cover the treatments. Gilbert then made payments to State of Alabama House Majority Leader Micky Hammon in exchange for his efforts on behalf of the bill. Gilbert also hired Defendant Connors to act as a lobbyist on behalf of the bill. Connors knew of Gilbert’s payments to Majority Leader Hammon. Hammon and Connors then recruited Defendant Williams, the chairman of the Commerce and Small Business Committee of the Alabama House of Representatives, to hold a public hearing on the bill. Williams also knew of the payments to Hammon and acted in part to help Hammon, who, as everyone in the scheme knew, was experiencing grave financial problems. “Based on these events, the indictment charges all three defendants with conspiracy to commit bribery related to federal programs, conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud, and honest services wire fraud,” wrote Franklin. “Additionally, the indictment alleges that Gilbert and Connors committed the substantive offense of bribery related to federal programs. Gilbert alone is charged with wire fraud, health care fraud, and interstate travel in aid of racketeering.” The indictment does not include charges against Hammon since he has already been convicted in federal court of other offenses related to mail fraud and misusing campaign funds. If convicted, the men face up to 20 years in prison. Gov. Kay Ivey weighed in on the indictment Monday afternoon following a speech in Huntsville, Ala. “There’s just no place for corruption in our great state. And so the Justice Department, the FBI, they’ve just got to go ahead and ferret out what needs to be explored because we cannot tolerate corruption,” Ivey told AL.com. “I just pointed out (during her speech in Huntsville) that the people of Alabama, the morale was very low because they had been misled by their leader and lost faith in the government. So I’ve tried my best to restore faith and trust in the government and operate an open, transparent administration.” The United States Postal Inspection Service investigated the case with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Jonathan S. Ross and Joshua Wendell are prosecuting the case. This is a developing story and will continue to be added to.
Steve Marshall releases web video, pledges to fight public corruption
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall released his first campaign advertisement of the 2018 election cycle on Monday, pledging to continue to fight against the public corruption the Yellowhammer State has come to know all too well. In the video, Marshall is seated in the courtroom where he served as the District Attorney for Marshall County from 2001, until he was appointed AG in February by former Gov. Robert Bentley after former-AG Luther Strange was appointed to the U.S. Senate. “The public corruption we’ve witnessed over the last twenty years is simply unacceptable. The people of Alabama deserve better…,” Marshall said in the video. “We’ve made progress, but there is much work that needs to be done. I’m Steve Marshall, Attorney General of Alabama, and I’m asking for your vote.” He also reminded Alabamians of his conservative ideals and his efforts in protecting the unborn and fighting for limited government. “I’ve fought on behalf the unborn, but also those Republican ideals that speak to limited government to push back against over-regulation by those in Washington,” Marshall added. Watch the full video below: Full transcript of video: In court rooms just like this, across Alabama, I’ve had the ability to fight the battles for families and victims, to be able to share their stories, to be able to stand up against those who would try to cause them harm, and to be able to convince juries that justice can only be found through verdicts of guilty. I’m Steve Marshall, and I’m Attorney General of Alabama. My faith is the grounding force of everything that I do in my life, that I understand that I’m not Attorney General, first. But instead, I’m a Believer in Jesus Christ. Twenty years ago I found my passion; and that was to serve as a prosecutor. Everyday having the opportunity to come to work to find justice for law enforcement and victims in my community and now as Attorney General across the state of Alabama. The public corruption we’ve witnessed over the last twenty years is simply unacceptable. The people of Alabama deserve better. As a prosecutor, I’ve enforced the ethics law in courtrooms in this state. I’ve held those who’ve violated those ethics laws accountable, and sent them to prison. I am a Republican because of the conservative ideals that the party represents. I’ve fought on behalf the unborn, but also those Republican ideals that speak to limited government to push back against over-regulation by those in Washington. And to make sure people that understand government has a limited purpose, not there to solve all problems, but to serve them well. You have given me the greatest opportunity I’ve ever had professionally, to be able to share the stories of law enforcement and victims throughout this state, to work to be able to keep our communities safer. We’ve made progress, but there is much work that needs to be done. I’m Steve Marshall, Attorney General of Alabama, and I’m asking for your vote.
Mike Hubbard’s marred legacy reflected in petition to scrub name from street
Just days after disgraced House Speaker Mike Hubbard received the wound of his political life by way of 12 convictions for public corruption, some Alabama activists are trying apply some salt. A new petition has emerged on MoveOn.org to remove his name from a street in Opelika currently called “Mike Hubbard Boulevard” and rename it “Cam Newton Run,” in a nod to one of Auburn University’s most famous alums, star NFL quarterback Cam Newton. The street runs from the intersection of Glenn Avenue and Bent Creek Road near exit 57, which leads to Auburn University Regional Airport, where thousands of students, alums, and parents travel each year to attend school or athletic events. “Let’s capture the Auburn spirit while depoliticizing an expected rename,” reads the petition’s headline, posted by a user known simply as Auburn Alum. “With exit 57 serving as a prominent gateway to Auburn fans, prospective students, opponents and the like, ‘Cam Newton Run’ recognizes one of Auburn’s most famous graduates and athletes who has served as a prominent and effective ambassador for Auburn both on and off the field. This rename also serves as a way to depoliticize what may be considered by many in this community to be a painful yet imminent name change,” the appeal reads. “WDE and thanks for the support,” the petition concludes, referring to the school’s unofficial war chant, “War Damn Eagle.” At press time, the petition had gathered nearly 900 signatures in just two days. It has a goal of 1,000 signatures. If successful, the petition will be delivered to Auburn Mayor Bill Ham. Then there’s the Mike Hubbard Center for Advanced Science, Innovation and Commerce at Auburn’s main campus, which houses researchers across six scientific disciplines and is a major landmark on campus. School officials there may also consider name changes. “Naming of campus facilities is a multi-step process that ends with a decision by the Auburn Board (of Trustees),” Auburn University director of public affairs Brian Keeter told AL.com. “Auburn will consider all information and make a determination at the appropriate time.” The idea of renaming the street after Newton has picked up significant traction from fans of the Carolina Panthers, Newton’s home in the NFL. The potential plans to scrub Hubbard from the public consciousness of Alabama continues the precipitous decline and fall for the longtime lawmaker. In just a year’s time, Hubbard has gone from the pinnacle of power in both the Alabama statehouse and the state Republican Party to a reviled figure in many circles, even among his own partisans. Hubbard said late last week he is still “in shock” over the dozen convictions he was slapped with over attempting to sell political influence and enrich himself and his allies using the levers of state government, and says he intends to appeal.
