"One of the jaw-dropping moments in his testimony was when he said some powerful Democrats wanted him to run for governor, but he couldn't remember who," she said.
Three Republican legislators who assisted the FBI did not fare any better, in Tolbert's eyes:
Tollbert said three Republican legislators who helped the FBI with its investigation -- Sen. Scott Beason of Gardendale, Rep. Barry Mask of Wetumpka and former Rep. Benjamin Lewis of Dothan -- "had obvious political motivations."
In the trial, the jury heard portions of a tape recording Beason made in a private meeting with Republican legislators where they talked about strategy for the 2010 election, when the Republican Party was trying to gain control of the Legislature. The jury heard one snippet where the Republicans discussed how the gambling legislation would go on the November 2010 ballot if approved by the Legislature and that would bring out more Democrat-leaning black voters, who favored gambling, and would hinder the GOP's efforts.
The legislation didn't go on the ballot, and the GOP won control of the Legislature.
Tolbert, who served as the jury's computer operator during deliberations, said the panel listened to Beason's entire two-hour tape during the deliberations, and it persuaded them that politics was involved in the case.
"Is there anybody in Alabama who doesn't think that?" she said.
Isn't it interesting that an everyday American can easily spot a political prosecution, but brainiacs in the Obama administration apparently cannot?
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
3
2
1
