“Friendship” Playing Big Role in Hubbard Trial

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            [0] => Former Alabama Governor Bob Riley, a lobbyist, is considered a "father figure" and "friend" of House Speaker Mike Hubbard.
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The trial of House Speaker Mike Hubbard has brought to light some curious aspects of Alabama ethics law, most notably an exemption provision regarding friendship. Hubbard took the stand in his own defense this week and testified about how he emailed so-called “friends” for business opportunities and advice when he was laid off in 2011. The prosecution argued that the emails were evidence that Hubbard illegally sought jobs and favors from lobbyists such as former Alabama Governor Bob Riley. Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald discusses the latest in the speaker’s public corruption trial.

 

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