Bribery Trial Guilty Verdict Sends Message Through Alabama Politics
Alabama’s latest corruption trial ended Friday with guilty verdicts. A jury on convicted attorney Joel Gilbert, formerly of the firm Balch and Bingham, and David Roberson, an executive with coal company Drummond, of bribing a state lawmaker. Prosecutors say the two paid former State Representative Oliver Robinson to help fight expansion of a toxic cleanup site around north Birmingham. Drummond would have been responsible for some costs if that happened. WBHM’s Andrew Yeager discussed to the verdict with Alabama Media Group columnist John Archibald.
Interview Highlights
How he reacted to the verdict:
“It was a little astonishing, honestly, because it sends such a message really. This is the sort of thing that many looked at as business as usual sometimes. It probably wouldn’t have come to trial if Oliver Robinson hadn’t been caught up in more crimes involving tax evasion. And if a couple of people on both sides hadn’t written it down in places where this was visible, it would have gone under the radar.”
On who else deserves scrutiny following details revealed in the trail:
“A lot of people do…There was testimony that the head of the [Birmingham] NAACP, the [Jefferson County chief] deputy tax assessor had involvement on one end. Everyone who contributed to Robison’s foundation in other forms, the biggest businesses in Alabama…at least have some connection to this. That of course was used as a defense for him to say he was legitimate. What we see here is that across the state all of the powers that are involved in this sort of activity just need to be looked at.”
How this trial differed from other corruption trials:
“The focus of this trial was not the public official. The focus of this trial was the mechanism that allows that sort of bribery to continue always. And we characterized bribery as something different than we have in the past. It doesn’t have to be an envelope full of money.”
No more Elmo? APT could cut ties with PBS
The board that oversees Alabama Public Television is considering disaffiliating from PBS, ending a 55-year relationship.
Nonprofit erases millions in medical debt across Gulf South, says it’s ‘Band-Aid’ for real issue
Undue Medical Debt has paid off more than $299 million in medical debts in Alabama. Now, the nonprofit warns that the issue could soon get worse.
Roy Wood Jr. on his father, his son and his new book
Actor, comedian and writer Roy Wood Jr. is out with a new book -- "The Man of Many Fathers: Life Lessons Disguised as a Memoir." He writes about his experience growing up in Birmingham, losing his dad as a teenager and all the lessons he learned from various father figures throughout his career.
Auburn fires coach Hugh Freeze following 12th loss in his last 15 SEC games
The 56-year-old Freeze failed to fix Auburn’s offensive issues in three years on the Plains, scoring 24 or fewer points in 17 of his 22 league games. He also ended up on the wrong end of too many close matchups, including twice this season thanks partly to questionable calls.
In a ‘disheartening’ era, the nation’s former top mining regulator speaks out
Joe Pizarchik, who led the federal Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement from 2009 to 2017, says Alabama’s move in the wake of a fatal 2024 home explosion increases risks to residents living atop “gassy” coal mines.
‘It’s like feeling the arms of your creator just wrapped around you’: a visit to a special healing Shabbat
Members of Temple Emanu-El in Birmingham gathered recently for their traditional Friday Shabbat service. But this particular service was different, as could be seen by all the people dressed in their finest pink.
