Luther “Big Luther” Strange hasn’t been Alabama’s junior senator very long.
And if the report in the Alabama Political Reporter by reporter Josh Moon is true, he won’t be one for much longer.
State Rep. John Rogers told federal investigators that he was approached by executives from Drummond Coal and then-Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange and offered what Rogers considered a bribe if he would lead the State’s and Drummond’s efforts against the EPA’s cleanup of a superfund pollution site in north Birmingham, a source close to Rogers told APR.
As Scooby Doo would said, “Rut roh.”
And what was it that these folks were supposedly offering?
According to the source, Rogers said he was offered control of a “super PAC or non-profit” into which Drummond Coal and other entities would contribute money in exchange for Rogers speaking out against the 35th Avenue superfund site and working to keep the EPA from assigning the area to the National Priority List.
My Latin is a bit rusty but I believe the term that applies to that is quid pro quo, which translates to “grease the palm.” Rogers, BTW, turned them down. But not everyone did.
Earlier this month former state Rep. Oliver Robinson agreed to plead guilty to charges stemming from his acceptance of money from Drummond.
In exchange, Robinson allegedly worked against the EPA’s efforts in the Birmingham area, discouraging residents from getting soil tests and telling them that a superfund designation, and a listing on the National Priority List, would have a detrimental effect on property values.
The source said that’s essentially the same deal Rogers told investigators that he was offered at a meeting in 2014 with a group of Drummond executives and Strange.
Hmmmm. Do you suppose Robinson got his plea deal because he is a nice guy? Or maybe he is singing like a canary. The U.S. Attorney’s office says Robinson is cooperating with their investigation.
Strange issued a statement that said the reports “are simply not true and smack of the same fake news that President Trump and Jeff Sessions are dealing with.”
One of his opponents in the upcoming GOP primary for the Senate seat that Jeff Sessions had held, Randy Brinson, joined in on Thursday.
A Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate called for a state and federal investigation into allegations against his opponent, current US Senator Luther Strange.
Randy Brinson accused Strange Thursday of accepting money from a company that was opposed to a Superfund designation for North Birmingham, something Strange strongly denied Thursday afternoon.
...
"Luther Strange told EPA Alabama wouldn't pay one penny to clean up North Birmingham that Drummond Coal was responsible for. Shortly afterward, Drummond gave Luther $25,000," Brinson said.
Strange responded to Brinson with this “strange” phrase:
"Anyone who desperately spreads salacious gossip against their brother in Christ needs to hit the confession booth," Strange's campaign said in response.
Strange should take his own advice and ask for forgiveness for the way he got to the United States Senate. The stench of corruption is heavy around Strange, who had urged the Legislature to back off of its impeachment investigation of former Gov. Robert “Luv Guv” Bentley over his affair with his senior aide.
Strange, who was Alabama’s attorney general, told the Legislature that his office was investigating and they should back off. So they did.
Then Trump won and named Sessions his AG, opening up Sessions’ Senate seat. Bentley gave it to Strange. It then turned out that Strange’s alleged investigation was BS. So the Legislature ramped its impeachment efforts again and Bentley resigned in disgrace.
Now Strange faces a crowded GOP primary for the special election this year and even a credible Democratic candidate, former US Attorney Doug Jones, who is best known for finally sending the rest of the scum responsible for the infamous 1963 bombing of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church to prison.