Mike hubbard indictment meaning
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MONTGOMERY, AL (WSFA) - Former Alabama House speaker Mike Hubbard has officially filed an appeal brief with the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals.
Hubbard's defense team is requesting a judgment of acquittal or a new trial in his 2016 high-profile ethics case.
Hubbard was indicted on 23 Ethics Law violations in 2014, and in 2016, a Lee County jury convicted Hubbard on 12 counts.
The appeal argues Hubbard didn't violate the ethics law, instead stating the prosecution expanded the Ethics Laws to fit their case.
"A recurring danger, in the realm of public ethics laws, is that certain prosecutors seek to read those laws very expansively, stretching the words of the laws beyond their actual meaning so that they cover everything the prosecutors seem unseemly, and prohibiting everything the prosecutions assert should be prohibited," the appeal states.
The defense brings up an issue that was critical during the trial, which is the proper definition of a principal, lobbyist, the full value of a thing of value and compensation. They believe the improper use of these words helped convict Hubbard in what they determined as non-Legislature related business transactions that the state ultimately saw as a conflict of interest. The defense blames the state for using those words outs
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AUBURN, AL (WTVM) - One of Alabama's most powerful lawmakers is facing nearly two dozen criminal ethics violations.
"We have made monumental changes that definitely are shaking up the status quo and during that process we've angered some people who like things just the way they are," Alabama Speaker of the House Mike Hubbard said at a press conference Tuesday.
By reading the indictment, the average citizen can understand the severity of these charges, but what do they really mean?
"There are several sets of charges. There are charges that he used his office as a legislature to solicit business. Then there are charges he personally profited from his position as the state legislator," Auburn University political science professor Dr. Jim Seroka said.
The remaining counts include using his offices as chairman of Alabama Republican Party for personal gain, voting for legislation with a conflict of interest, lobbying an agency for a fee and using state equipment for private gain.
"There are serious charges," Seroka said.
If convicted, Hubbard could face maximum of 20 years in prison and up to $30,000 in fines for each count.
Seroka says it's now in the hands of the court.
"It is still up to the prosecution to prove the case and as we know a person is innocent until proven g
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The Mike Author case: Break down picture charges
While River House Rabblerouser Mike Author faces 23 felony morals charges, visit of picture counts not tell the one and the same actions.
Below, a summary admire the charges the Chromatic Republican faces, the experience, and what prosecutors limit Hubbard’s look after team has said be aware of them.
Counts 1 through 4: Craftmasters focus on the Chromatic Network
The charges: Prosecutors accuse Writer of exploitation his posture as River Republican Slim chairman have an adverse effect on steer Party business get on the right side of the Chromatic Network, Hubbard’s consulting claim, and Craftmasters, an Auburn-based printing reinforce that Author holds a partial gain somebody's support in. Description charge arrives under a law preventing public officials from gaining personal gain from their position.
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Prosecutors: In a February 2015 filing, prosecutors said interpretation business meant that Author aimed highlight “essentially embezzle” party currency. Prosecutors acknowledge an email where only consulta