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It’s the talk of Alabama over the past two days, two major casino operators and four state Senators indicted in a scheme to “buy and sell votes” on legislation related to electronic bingo.
11 people in all were charged on Monday while another individual already plead guilty to conspiracy on September 28.
Past and former elected officials weighed in on the state crisis in interviews with Meridian, Mississippinews affiliate WTOK, which can be viewed in nearby Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and its surrounding region.
The Democratic nominee for Alabama governor, Ron Sparks, tells WTOK “the timing of the gambling indictments a month before the election is suspicious and must be questioned”.
The Republican nominee for governor, Robert Bentley, says the indictments are an example of what's wrong with Montgomery politics, referring to the state capital.
U.S. Rep. Artur Davis called the situation an “embarrassing spectacle”.
Others chimed in with AL.com, a website affiliate with some of the state’s top newspapers including the Birmingham News and Huntsville Times:
"It would seem to be very political in nature and if, in fact, they have been doing a 19-month investigation. Why would they not wait three more weeks until after the elections if this wasn't designed to influence the outcome of an election?" said state Sen. Roger Bedford, D-Russellville, who sponsored the gambling bill in the Senate.
Hank Sanders, D-Selma weighed in as well: "Since this investigation has been going on for 19 months, I'm deeply bothered that it breaks 29 days before the election. That smacks of politics to me.”
Those indicted in the Alabama bingo probe were the developer of the Country Crossing Casino in Dothan, Ronnie Gilley, Miton McGregor, who is owner of the VictoryLand Casno in Shorter and four Senators including Harri Anne Smith, Larry Means, Quinton Ross, Jr. and James Preuitt.
Alejandro Botticelli reporting for Gambling911.com
