Update: Interesting Testimony in House Speaker Mike Hubbard’s Ethics Trial
Testimony resumes in indicted Alabama House Speaker, Mike Hubbard’s ethics trial.
Robert Abrams was the first person called to the stand to testify Thursday. Abrams is current owner of SiO2, which is a medical products company in Auburn.
The 81-year-old Abrams has a THICK New York accent and kept things interesting with his testimony. His testimony has brought laughter to Hubbard, and even jurors cracked a few smiles because of his colorful testimony.
Abrams testifies that when the business was starting up he wanted to get state help for a training facility for the workers they needed. He reached out to Hubbard to get a meeting with Governor Bentley to talk about state financial help with the training facility. Abrams said he did get a meeting with the governor via Hubbard.
He also asked Hubbard to help speed up the patent printing process with the government printing office in Washington D.C.. The state showed emails where Abrams was sending supporting materials about the patent to Hubbard.
Abrams is also the majority owner of Capitol Cups, who hired Hubbard for $10,000 a month to be a consultant.  The state proved that this consulting agreement was BEFORE Hubbard helped with the patent.
Hubbard’s attorneys showed that Capitol Cups didn’t hire him because he was speaker of the house, but they hired him because of his sports network business. Abrams said he wanted Hubbard because of his sports network, since they were trying to get an agreement with Auburn University and the S-E-C to be able to print cups with the college logos. Abrams even made a joke saying “I didn’t know politicians bought sports cups”.
General Manager of Capitol Cups, Tina Belfance, was also called to the stand.
The state shared an email between her and Hubbard, where he says he was going to be working with a state lawmaker at a legislative conference to make headway on getting Waffle House to buy their cups. The state shared another email, where Hubbard was reaching out to a potential buyer of Capitol Cups. He didn’t mention his affiliation to the company. He signed it as Speaker of the House.
The defense pointed out a separate email to a buyer where Hubbard acknowledges he’s working with the company. These are just a few examples the state tried to use where Hubbard was using his position as speaker to help a private company that was paying him.
President and CEO of great Southern Wood, Jimmy Rane, was the final witness to take the stand Thursday.
The state showed that Rane was trying to help out his hometown of Abbeville, by attracting a business to a vacant building in the town. Hubbard was at a meeting on location with Rane, Bob Riley, etc. and a potential company. Hubbard reported this work in consulting work with the Southeast Alabama Gas District.
Rane also invested $150 thousand to Hubbard’s failing business, Craftmaster Printers. That would be illegal under ethics laws since Rane’s company employs lobbyists, but Rane says that was a personal investment not tied to the company.
He also stressed that Hubbard is a good friend of his. Under ethics laws, their friendship is an exemption.
“I’ve knew Mike since 1984 and our friendship is personal. I am not seeing the Speaker of the House. I am seeing a friend. I would trust him with my children and my checkbook.”
Testimonies have concludes for Thursday and will resume again Friday morning.
Stay with Alabama News Network for the latest in this developing trial.
