Associated Press
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — A former state senator testified Friday that indicted Sen. Harri Anne Smith offered him a campaign contribution if he would commit to voting for pro-gambling legislation.
Former Republican Sen. Steve French of Mountain Brook said Smith made the offer in the Senate chamber at the Alabama Statehouse on March 11, 2010.
"She said, 'If you vote for the bill, I will give you a contribution,'" French told a federal court jury.
French's testimony parallels testimony last month by Republican Sen. Scott Beason of Gardendale, who said Smith told him that he could get up to $500,000 in campaign contributions from owners of a Dothan casino if he sided with them in the Legislature.
Smith, an independent from Slocomb, is one of nine people on trial on charges of using campaign contributions to buy and sell votes for legislation designed to protect electronic bingo casinos, including Country Crossing casino in Smith's southeast Alabama district.
An offer to French is not mentioned specifically in the indictment against the nine, but prosecutors presented the testimony to support the conspiracy charge against the defendants.
In March 2010, Smith was a member of the Republican caucus. French said Smith and several other caucus members attended a dinner at the Olive Room restaurant in Montgomery on March 9, 2010, that was paid for by beer wholesalers.
During the conversation, "Senator Smith caused a couple of us to react because she said others had come to her to ask for donations," French said.
He quoted Smith as saying that she reminded the people that she had endorsed Democrat Bobby Bright for Congress in 2008 and then they went away because the Republican Party was upset with her about the endorsement. French said he told her that the endorsement wouldn't bother him.
French said it was a jovial remark, but two days later in the Senate chamber, Smith motioned him over to her desk and asked if he wanted a campaign donation. He answered yes.
"She said, 'Would you be willing to vote for the gambling bill?'"
French said he told her that he wasn't talking about the bill and campaign donations together, but she still offered a campaign contribution for his vote.
French said he agreed to read a new version of the gambling bill, and Smith told him to come back to see her when he finished.
French said he walked off because "I didn't want the conversation to continue."
"The linking of the two was very uncomfortable to me and I thought she had stepped over the line," he testified.
French voted against the gambling bill when the Senate approved it on March 30, 2010. Two days later, the FBI announced it was investigating Statehouse corruption. French said that announcement prompted him to contact law enforcement.
Smith's attorney, Jim Parkman, pointed out that French didn't talk to investigators until April 5, 2010 — two days after the Republican Party kicking out Smith for endorsing a Democrat.
French said he opposed her ejection from the party and her politics had nothing to do with him talking to investigators.
French sought re-election in 2010, but was defeated in the Republican primary.
Friday ended the seventh week of the trial. Prosecutors plan to wrap up their case Monday. U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson he will spend Tuesday considering requests to dismiss some of the charges, and the defense will begin Wednesday. Joe Espy, attorney for indicted VictoryLand casino owner Milton McGregor, estimated the jury could begin deliberations in mid-August.
The last of the three people who pleaded guilty in the case, Country Crossing casino lobbyist Jennifer Pouncy, wrapped up four days of testimony Friday morning.
The trial became heated when prosecutor Steve Feaga asked her a question about indicted Sen. Quinton Ross, D-Montgomery, and the now-closed Greenetrack casino in Eutaw.
"Did you know Senator Ross was receiving $6,600 a month from Greenetrack?" Feaga asked.
Ross' attorney objected to the question before Pouncy could reply. Under questioning by the judge, Feaga said he didn't have any reason to believe Pouncy would know about any payment. The judge stopped Pouncy from answering and told the jury to disregard the question because there was no foundation for it.
Greenetrack is not mentioned in the charges against the nine defendants. A phone message and email were sent to Greenetrack attorney John Bolton seeking comment.
Former Republican Sen. Steve French of Mountain Brook said Smith made the offer in the Senate chamber at the Alabama Statehouse on March 11, 2010.
"She said, 'If you vote for the bill, I will give you a contribution,'" French told a federal court jury.
French's testimony parallels testimony last month by Republican Sen. Scott Beason of Gardendale, who said Smith told him that he could get up to $500,000 in campaign contributions from owners of a Dothan casino if he sided with them in the Legislature.
Smith, an independent from Slocomb, is one of nine people on trial on charges of using campaign contributions to buy and sell votes for legislation designed to protect electronic bingo casinos, including Country Crossing casino in Smith's southeast Alabama district.
An offer to French is not mentioned specifically in the indictment against the nine, but prosecutors presented the testimony to support the conspiracy charge against the defendants.
In March 2010, Smith was a member of the Republican caucus. French said Smith and several other caucus members attended a dinner at the Olive Room restaurant in Montgomery on March 9, 2010, that was paid for by beer wholesalers.
During the conversation, "Senator Smith caused a couple of us to react because she said others had come to her to ask for donations," French said.
He quoted Smith as saying that she reminded the people that she had endorsed Democrat Bobby Bright for Congress in 2008 and then they went away because the Republican Party was upset with her about the endorsement. French said he told her that the endorsement wouldn't bother him.
French said it was a jovial remark, but two days later in the Senate chamber, Smith motioned him over to her desk and asked if he wanted a campaign donation. He answered yes.
"She said, 'Would you be willing to vote for the gambling bill?'"
French said he told her that he wasn't talking about the bill and campaign donations together, but she still offered a campaign contribution for his vote.
French said he agreed to read a new version of the gambling bill, and Smith told him to come back to see her when he finished.
French said he walked off because "I didn't want the conversation to continue."
"The linking of the two was very uncomfortable to me and I thought she had stepped over the line," he testified.
French voted against the gambling bill when the Senate approved it on March 30, 2010. Two days later, the FBI announced it was investigating Statehouse corruption. French said that announcement prompted him to contact law enforcement.
Smith's attorney, Jim Parkman, pointed out that French didn't talk to investigators until April 5, 2010 — two days after the Republican Party kicking out Smith for endorsing a Democrat.
French said he opposed her ejection from the party and her politics had nothing to do with him talking to investigators.
French sought re-election in 2010, but was defeated in the Republican primary.
Friday ended the seventh week of the trial. Prosecutors plan to wrap up their case Monday. U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson he will spend Tuesday considering requests to dismiss some of the charges, and the defense will begin Wednesday. Joe Espy, attorney for indicted VictoryLand casino owner Milton McGregor, estimated the jury could begin deliberations in mid-August.
The last of the three people who pleaded guilty in the case, Country Crossing casino lobbyist Jennifer Pouncy, wrapped up four days of testimony Friday morning.
The trial became heated when prosecutor Steve Feaga asked her a question about indicted Sen. Quinton Ross, D-Montgomery, and the now-closed Greenetrack casino in Eutaw.
"Did you know Senator Ross was receiving $6,600 a month from Greenetrack?" Feaga asked.
Ross' attorney objected to the question before Pouncy could reply. Under questioning by the judge, Feaga said he didn't have any reason to believe Pouncy would know about any payment. The judge stopped Pouncy from answering and told the jury to disregard the question because there was no foundation for it.
Greenetrack is not mentioned in the charges against the nine defendants. A phone message and email were sent to Greenetrack attorney John Bolton seeking comment.
No comments:
Post a Comment