FBI conducting corruption probe focused on gambling, bingo bill passed by Alabama Senate

The Birmingham News ^ | April 2, 2010 | Kim Chandler

[michy9999]

MONTGOMERY -- Federal investigators told legislative leaders Thursday they are investigating corruption revolving around gambling and the bingo bill passed by the Senate earlier this week.

....

Legislators said they were given scant details about the status of the investigation other than that the focus was on bingo.

"They were very vague but they said there was substantial evidence of public corruption on the bingo issue," said Senate Minority Leader Jabo Waggoner, R-Vestavia Hills. Waggoner said the federal officials told the lawmakers the investigation "was not a fishing expedition." House Minority Leader, Rep. Mike Hubbard, R-Auburn, said most of the lawmakers in the room pledged to cooperate with the investigation, and a big part of that cooperation is informing lawmakers to come forward and report anything out of the ordinary related to bingo legislation.

Hubbard did that with House Republicans late Thursday, calling them into a meeting. "I told them they had a duty and obligation if they knew anything that might relate to this investigation to step forward now," Hubbard said.

Hubbard said he had no first-hand information to share with the federal officials, but he said Thursday's meeting was chilling.

"They scared the crap out of me, and I know I haven't done anything wrong," Hubbard said.

Rep. John Rogers, D-Birmingham, said he also met with members of the legislative black caucus Thursday and told them to be extremely careful about discussing campaign contributions with lobbyists for gambling interests.

"I told them under no condition should they be discussing bingo and money together, don't do it, don't joke about it because we're all being watched," Rogers said. "I don't know what all is about to happen around here but you get the feeling that all hell is about to break loose."

[michy9999]

The Democrat-controlled state Senate just passed an electronic bingo bill, and it looks like there may be some funny business going on.

[GeronL]

Corrupt politicians??

No way!!

//sarcasm

[fieldmarshaldj]

*ping*

[Mark17]

Rep. John Rogers, D-Birmingham, said he also met with members of the legislative black caucus Thursday and told them to be extremely careful about discussing campaign contributions with lobbyists for gambling interests.

Sounds like obstruction of justice to me.

[Onelifetogive]

I told them under no condition should they be discussing bingo and money together, don't do it, don't joke about it because we're all being watched," Rogers said.

Make sure the conversations about bingo and money are separate. Pass their bingo and get your money, just not in the same conversation...