Update: Former Gov. Bob Riley, Daughter Testify in Hubbard Ethics Trial
There were some tense moments in a Lee County courtroom during Speaker of the House Mike Hubbard’s ethics trial today. Former Gov. Bob Riley and his daughter Minda Riley Campbell took the stand with a defensive tone towards the prosecution.
In an unusual twist, Campbell made a final plea to the jury that Hubbard did nothing wrong. Riley and Campbell are registered lobbyists and the state says Hubbard illegally asked them for things of value.
Riley says House Speaker Mike Hubbard emailed him several times seeking a job, but said some of the conversations were merely banter. Prosecutors asked Riley about multiple emails from Hubbard, who said how much he wanted to work for Riley’s new lobbying and consulting firm, Bob Riley & Associates. The ex-governor said Hubbard repeatedly asked for work, but it wasn’t “a serious ask every time.”
Prosecutors called Riley to testify as they seek to prove Hubbard improperly asked lobbyists for work, investments and financial favors. Hubbard has described Riley as his political mentor.
Hubbard, who maintains he is innocent, is accused of using his positions as GOP party chairman and house speaker for personal gain.
Campbell’s testimony highlighted two items — the Paris Air Show in Paris, France, and Hubbard’s desire to work for her father’s company Bob Riley and Associates.
As for the air show, Hubbard was paid to go to that event as a consultant for the Southeast Alabama Gas District. But the state showed Campbell setting up meetings with Hubbard and business executives. They also shared pictures from the air show where Hubbard is wearing a name tag identifying himself as the Speaker, even though he was there as a private consultant.
Another point was Hubbard expressing a desire to work for Riley’s lobbying firm in emails with Campbell, at one point saying he thought that was the plan but Riley messed that up by registering as a lobbyist.
The state is using this in their case that Hubbard broke the ethics laws by seeking a thing of value from a lobbyist.
The defense has been playing up the longstanding friendship between Campbell and Hubbard, because there is an exemption in the ethics law for friendships. Campbell was allowed to speak her mind at the end of her testimony. saying about Hubbard, “I’ve loved that man like a brother for 20 years. His wife is like a big sister to me. I do not believe for one minute that that man would ever knowingly do anything unethical or dishonest.”
The first person called to the stand was the President/CEO to the Business Council of Alabama (BCA) and registered lobbyist, Bill Canary.
Canary spoke about how he would have weekly meetings in the Speaker’s office to go over agenda, etc.
The prosecution is establishing that the BCA is a powerful advocacy group in the state. Canary admits to helping Hubbard seek outside financial income, “subject to the ethics commission”.
Prosecutors showed examples of Canary going with Hubbard to Washington DC to meet with people Canary had relationships with and contacts with to potentially develop future business opportunities. Canary clearly knew what the prosecution was getting to and he kept saying they were potential business opportunities for Hubbard, pending the approval of the ethics commission.
The state shared an email to Canary from Hubbard’s secretary saying, she was going to be setting up the meetings Canary and various CEOs across the state. Canary says these meetings would be “official” business and he was talking about legislation with the CEOs.
The state read another email from Canary to a friend moving to Connecticut to work for a business, and Canary referred him to Hubbard saying Hubbard may be able to offer assistance outside of the state of Alabama.
The defense argues that Canary and Hubbard’s friendship has nothing to do with him being the Speaker of the House. They say that “as a friend”, he was helping Hubbard with his financial situation and were very careful about abiding by ethics laws.
Hubbard faces 23 ethics charges accusing him of using his positions as GOP party chairman and house speaker to try to generate $2.3 million in work and investments for his companies. Hubbard says he is innocent.
(Copyright 2016 The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
