AG Marshall's campaign takes in questionable donations
Attorney General Steve Marshall’s (R) campaign has accepted donations from several Political Action Committees funded by a company currently involved in an AG’s office investigation and another company owned by a man who was a key witness in the Mike Hubbard trial.
In all, according to campaign finance reports, Marshall’s campaign took in $15,000 from six PACs managed by Fine Geddie & Associates, and all six were funded by the same four entities: Drummond Coal Company, Great Southern Wood, Blue Cross Blue Shield and Protective Life Insurance.
Drummond Coal is, of course, caught up in the state and federal investigations related to the 35th Ave. EPA superfund site – investigations that have already led to a state lawmaker agreeing to a plea deal and a Drummond executive being accused by the U.S. Attorney’s office of participating in acts of bribery.
Great Southern Wood Company is owned by Jimmy Rane, the state’s wealthiest man, according to Forbes, and a longtime friend of Hubbard. Rane defended Hubbard during his trial, testifying that he gave the former Alabama House Speaker money because of their friendship – an exception under Alabama’s ethics laws. And sources close to Rane said the Yella Fella was particularly unhappy with AG prosecutor Matt Hart – the driving force behind Hubbard’s prosecution and ultimate conviction on 12 felony counts.
Read more: http://www.alreporter.com/2017/07/14/ag-marshalls-campaign-takes-questionable-donations/