Hubbard says political agendas motivate 23-count indictment
AUBURN, AL (WTVM) - Surrounded by nearly 30 supporters, Alabama Speaker of the House Mike Hubbard held a press conference Tuesday to address his recent indictment on 23 felony
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ethics law violations
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"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," Hubbard said.
Supporters lashed out against a fellow republican, accusing Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange of prosecuting the Speaker for political purposes.
U.S. Representative Mike Rogers says Strange is using "Chicago-style gutter politics" that has no place in Lee County or Alabama.
"Think about this, who would like to be governor is four years, that would love to get Mike Hubbard out of the picture or at least skin him up so he's not as viable a candidate," Rogers said.
Strange released a statement in reaction to Tuesday's press conference:
I made the decision to recuse myself from the matter involving Speaker Hubbard several months ago. I did so based on the recommendations of our career prosecutors and to completely remove any appearance of politics being involved in the matter.
I appointed respected supernumerary District Attorney Van Davis of St. Clair County to serve as acting attorney general and to handle this case. I have confidence in his ability to handle this matter fairly and completely without regard to politics. No one has questioned Mr. Davis' qualifications or his integrity. Mr. Hubbard is entitled to the presumption of innocence and this matter will now be handled, as it should be, in the court system.
"It is a hokey pokey philosophy because he puts his right foot in, he puts his right foot out and I never know when he is the attorney general and when he is not," Hubbard's attorney Mark White said.
Hubbard says he never once thought of stepping down from his position. He stated that he followed the law during the two year investigation and looks forward to clearing his name in the weeks to come.
“There is a bigger agenda taking place and over the next few weeks we will be finding out and exposing while all of this is taking place," Hubbard said.
Hubbard's legal team says this is a part of a political agenda, and not let the process get in the way of the general election two weeks away.
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