Christian Republican Alabama House Speaker Mike Hubbard Indicted On 23 Corruption Charges; Says It's a 'Political Witch Hunt'
Calling the move a "political witch hunt" and "politics at its worst" Christian Republican Alabama House Speaker Mike Hubbard, 52, was indicted and charged with 23 felony corruption counts by a grand jury Monday including using his office for personal gain and soliciting things of value.
The powerful leader in the state Republican Party, who spearheaded a Republican takeover of Alabama's state legislature in 2010 was charged after an investigation that went on for more than a year, according to al.com. He was booked at the Lee County Jail Monday afternoon and now faces a maximum penalty of two to 20 years imprisonment and as much as $30,000 in fines for each count if he is convicted.
The married father of two who, along with his wife Dr. Susan Hubbard, is an active member of the Auburn United Methodist Church, assured his constituents in a video message posted on his Facebook page late Monday that it was nothing more than "political persecution" and declared that he would be "sleeping well tonight."
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"Friends, if there was any doubt in anyone's mind that this was nothing but a political witch hunt, I think it's pretty clear right now that that is exactly what it is," he began in the 33-seconds video.
"It's been going on for two years, dragging on and on, and here they come two weeks before an election and make these allegations. The fact is we've done some great things in this state and some powerful people don't like it," he continued.
"Here in Lee County, we've been very successful, created 3,000 new jobs and we have low unemployment. But I tell you, I'm sleeping well tonight because I know that the people of Lee County and this district are gonna know that this is politics at his worst," he ended.
The indictment, according to al.com, alleges that Hubbard solicited favors from the rich and powerful in Alabama and got want he wanted most times. These targets include Alabama Governor Bob Riley, Business Council of Alabama CEO Billy Canary, Hoar Construction CEO Rob Burton, Great Southern Wood CEO Jimmy Rane, former Sterne Agee CEO James Holbrook, lobbyist Minda Riley Campbell, Harbert Management Corp. vice president Will Brooke and political operative Dax Swatek explained al.com.
Hubbard's lawyer Mark White said a press conference would be held Tuesday to address the charges but noted: "We'll be ready to fire back."
