Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford is free on bond after being arrested today on a 101 count federal indictment alleging conspiracy, bribery, fraud, money laundering and filing false tax returns. He pleaded not guilty to what U-S Attorney Alice Martin says was a “classic pay to play scheme”. Langford allegedly accepted $235,000 in exchange for funneling millions of dollars of Jefferson County bond deals to Montgomery investment banker William Blount. Blount and lobbyist Al LaPierre also face charges. Birmingham City Councilwoman Valerie Abbott tells WBHM’s Tanya Ott it’s a sad day for the city.
Abbott says race could become a factor in Langford’s prosecution.