Cross Posted at Legal Schnauzer
Bob Riley apparently cannot help himself.
He became governor of Alabama in 2002 on the "strength" of laundered money from Republican felon Jack Abramoff and an election that almost certainly was stolen from Democrat Don Siegelman. Now, less than a month after Riley left office, we are learning that his final days in office were filled with dubious deals and crony corruption.
Bob Martin, editor and publisher of The Montgomery Independent, lays it out in a must-read piece titled "Riley's Final Days Filled With Checks, Deals." Martin describes Riley as running what amounts to a criminal enterprise during his final days in office, one that could have major repercussions in Alabama for years to come.
But this is not just an Alabama story. Multiple sources have told Legal Schnauzer that Riley is making plans for a 2012 presidential run, especially if Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour continues to stick his foot in his mouth about the good ole' days of segregation. A major figure from the Deep South figures to be in the GOP's 2012 field--and that might well be Riley.
The most serious matter in Martin's piece involves a deal that Riley allegedly struck with incoming Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange. Here is how Martin describes it:
Perhaps the most significant of them all is the meeting he called in his office in mid-December with Attorney General-elect Luther Strange. It was the last week of the special session Riley had called to deal with his proposed ethics enhancements.
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
