Jack Williams’ lawyer believes his case will not go to trial, will end favorably
Vestavia Hills-Republican, longtime State Rep.Jack Williams‘ lawyer reportedly does not believe Williams’ case will go to trial and that whatever the solution it will end favorably for him. Williams, along with former Alabama Republican Party Chairman Martin “Marty” Connors, California-based health care executive G. Ford Gilbert were arrested in April on federal bribery charges. This week, a new defendant was added to the case. Outgoing Daphne-Republican State Rep. Randy Davis was also indicted on Wednesday by a feral grand jury on charges of bribery and conspiracy. In light of the new filing against Davis, Williams’ attorney Jake Watson told AL.com he expects to see a resolution soon, and that Williams could avoid the trial currently scheduled for September 4. “All I can say is that we are in the process of resolving the previous indictment. And I would think it will be resolved within the next few weeks,” Watson continued. “I expect it to be resolved in a manner that is favorable to the government and to Mr. Williams.” According to the indictment originally filed in April, 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. 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. Williams plead “not guilty” in a federal arraignment later in April. “I have done nothing wrong, and once the facts are presented, I expect to be found innocent by a jury of all the allegations outlined in Monday’s indictment,” he said in a statement. If convicted, Williams faces up to 20 years in prison.
Randy Davis indicted on bribery, conspiracy charges
Outgoing Daphne-Republican State Rep. Randy Davis was indicted by a feral grand jury on Wednesday on charges of bribery and conspiracy. According to federal court documents, Davis has been accused of pressuring Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama to “cover infusion treatments at Trina Health clinics even though the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said there was no evidence the outpatient insulin therapy treatment improved outcomes,” the Associated Press reported. Allegedly, Davis worked with former Alabama House Majority Leader and Decatur-Republican Micky Hammon to recruit investors to the Trina Health clinics, after which he would receive a finders’ fee. He has also been accused of working with Hammon to push a bill through the Alabama State Legislature’s 2016 session aimed at forcing insurance coverage of the treatments at the clinics. “After Trina Health encountered difficulties with the health insurance companies, Davis attempted to lobby the insurance company to change its position,” reads a Department of Justice press release. “When that failed, Davis took steps to advance the bill. For example, Davis helped to recruit a sponsor, arranged for the public hearing to be video recorded, and then spoke in favor of the bill at a public hearing.” Vestavia Hills-Republican, longtime State Rep. Jack Williams, former Alabama Republican Party Chairman Martin Connors, along with a California-based health care executive G. Ford Gilbert were arrested in April for the alleged plan. “Based on these events, the superseding indictment charges Davis, Gilbert, and Connors with conspiracy to commit bribery related to federal programs. Additionally, the superseding indictment alleges that Gilbert committed various acts of bribery related to federal programs. Gilbert and Davis are also charged with interstate travel and communications in aid of racketeering. The last count in the superseding indictment charges Connors with making a false statement to a federal agent,” the press release continues. The defendants face a maximum of 10 years imprisonment. Hammon was sentenced to three months in prison in February on charges relating to mail fraud while Williams, Connors and Gilbert await their trial on September 4.
Robert Bentley signs open meetings provisions into law
Gov. Robert Bentley on Tuesday held a ceremonial signing for a new open-government law intended to build upon the state’s Open Meetings Act by clarifying and strengthening key provisions based on the experience of the law in practice since it went into effect in 2005. “Transparency promotes government accountability, and as elected officials, we are held to a higher standard for our decisions,” Bentley said in a statement. “It is important that our state’s open meetings law allows the public to see and be involved in government decisions. I supported this bill last year, and I am proud to see the Alabama Legislature pass this important piece of legislation this year.” According to a staff analysis cited by the governor’s office, the new law amends the Open Meetings Act by altering the following three provisions: (1) It expressly states that meetings in small groups without proper notice to discuss issues that will come before the full body is not permitted. There are times when government business requires closed-door meetings, and the current law provides for those situations. (2) Clarifies that Alabama citizens have a right to bring an action against a governmental body if they believe the body has violated the law, and any penalties assessed are payable to the plaintiff. (3) The legislation reflects that the Alabama Constitution requires the Alabama Legislature to meet with its doors open to the public unless a vote is taken in public that secrecy is required in certain circumstances. The law comes amid concerns in neighboring Georgia and across the South stemming from widespread legislative membership in quasi-legislative groups like the American Legislative Exchange Council. Florida — which prides itself on its good-government “Sunshine Law” — also recently had a kerfuffle involving a closed-door meeting and an enterprising reporter attempting to listen in through the door. House rules there require that meetings between more than two members of the Legislature must be open to the public if they are “agreeing to take formal legislative action on pending legislation or amendments.” Bentley was joined in his optimism by the House and Senate co-sponsors of the new law, Sen. Cam Ward and Rep. Randy Davis. Government should be open, transparent, accountable, and its business done before the people,” said Ward in a statement. “We have now strengthened the original intent of the Open Meetings law by forbidding members of a government board from holding secret meetings to collude on issues that should be discussed in the open. The people’s business should be done in the light of public oversight.” “The Open Meetings Act ensures that meetings of our public officials are accessible and that everyday citizens can engage in the process,” Davis added. “I’m proud to have sponsored this important bill that is truly for the people of Alabama.”
