The speaker of the Alabama House, Mike Hubbard, has been arrested on a 23 count indictment alleging an array of corruption charges. The arrest has been anticipated for some time by political observers in Alabama.
A grand jury has been meeting in Lee County, Hubbard’s home county, for more than year. It’s already ensnared two other state lawmakers but most believed the powerful Republican was the target.
The charges include using his office as house speaker and earlier as chair of the Alabama Republican Party for personal gain as well as soliciting or receiving a thing of value from a lobbyist. The indictment says Hubbard sought favors from many prominent people in the Alabama business and political world, including former Governor Bob Riley.
Hubbard has denied any wrongdoing and in a statement calls his arrest “politics at its worst.” He had earlier said the grand jury investigating him was a political witch hunt. Hubbard’s lawyer says the speaker is confident and ready to battle the charges.
The indictment does not remove Hubbard from office or his position as speaker. He vows to win re-election on Nov. 4th and continue as speaker of the Alabama House. If Hubbard is reelected, Rep. Jim Carns of Jefferson County says he’ll seek the speakership. Carns questioned if someone could effectively lead the House while facing 23 felony counts.