Defiant Hubbard takes stand to defend himself: I made 'not a cent' off of my office

Alabama House Speaker Mike Hubbard in his office at the State House (Photo: YouTube)

OPELIKA, Ala. — On Tuesday, Alabama House Speaker Mike Hubbard took the stand in his own defense to fight back against the felony ethics charges being levied against him.

Hubbard testified that while he was chairman of the Alabama Republican Party, he and a group of campaign operatives and candidates jointly decided to use a printing company co-owned by Hubbard to do all of their direct mail advertising.

“We could control every aspect of it,” Hubbard said, emphasizing that they believed it was the best deal for their candidates and gave them the most assurance that it would be quality work.

Hubbard was specifically asked if he ever forced anyone to choose his company.

“Absolutely not,” he responded.

Later in the evening, Hubbard also said he took extensive precautions to ensure he remained in compliance with state ethics laws and insisted he made “not a cent” from campaign work directed to his company.

The prosecution presented emails from Hubbard to former Governor-turned-lobbyist Bob Riley in which the speaker said he had fallen into dire financial straits.

In the emails, Hubbard requested the aid of Riley and others in finding work. Prosecutors argue that such evidence proves Hubbard improperly sought jobs and financial favors from lobbyists who had business before the Alabama Legislature.

“I was obviously pouring out my soul in the emails,” Hubbard said. “You never think the government is going to get your emails and put them out on the Internet.”

Previously, Riley testified that he did counsel Hubbard before he signed a lucrative consulting contract with the Southeast Alabama Gas District (SEAGD). The prosecution alleges Hubbard illegally lobbied the governor’s office and the state Department of Commerce on behalf of the company. SEAGD hired Hubbard to help recruit employers to their service area and paid Hubbard as much as $12,000 a month.

“I told Mike, this is as clean as anything you will ever do,” Riley said.

Hubbard argued that his contract with SEAGD allowed him to work more closely with state and local officials, while prosecutors argue that it was part of $2.38 million of illegally generated profits for his businesses.

Hubbard’s testimony lasted for about 90 minutes. The trial has featured many heavy-hitting witnesses, including the past two governors of the state.

The prosecution alleges Hubbard made millions of dollars in various schemes designed to leverage the power of his office to enrich himself.

The charges are as follows:

• Four counts of using of his office as Chairman of the Alabama Republican Party for personal gain;
• One count of voting for legislation with a conflict of interest;
• Eleven counts of soliciting or receiving a thing of value from a lobbyist or principal;
• Two counts of using his office as a member of the Alabama House of Representatives for personal gain;
• Four Counts of lobbying an executive department or agency for a fee;
• And one count of using state equipment, materials, etc. for private gain.

If convicted, Hubbard faces a maximum penalty of two to twenty years imprisonment and fines of up to $30,000.00 for each count, all of which are Class B Felonies.