The Shady Ascension of Luther Strange – New Republic

With Strange now picking out office furniture in Washington, D.C., Bentley has the privilege of selecting a new attorney general, a development that has Alabama reporters and political junkies whipped up into a fury. Columnist Kyle Whitmire wrote that the move set a new benchmark for Alabama corruption, adding: Its so nakedly political that someone should charge them with indecent exposure. Cartoonist J.D. Crowe drew a caricature of Strange and Bentley in the nude, with the governor reaching around to cup the new senators chest, a reference to an infamous clandestine recording of Bentley cooing about how much he loves to squeeze the breasts of his mistress Rebekah Mason.

Even some Republicans are saying the optics are bad. After all, Strange, a former D.C. lobbyist, has made a name for himself as a force against corruption. He came into office in 2010 as part of the GOPs historic takeover of all branches of state government, which had been dominated by Democrats since Reconstruction. Central to the campaign was a vow to fight corruption, and once in office Strange reconstituted the states special prosecution unit. One of its earliest targets was Mike Hubbard, speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives and mastermind of the Republican takeover. Strange recused himself from the case, citing his use of Hubbards printing company during his campaign. But after it ended with 12 felony convictions, Strange announced, This is a good day for the rule of law in our state. He added, This should send a clear message that in Alabama we hold public officials accountable for their actions.

During his two terms in office, Strange has presented himself as a tough enforcer of laws and constitutional rights, especially those that interest conservatives. As a leader in the Republican Attorney General Association (at the time of his Senate appointment he was chairman-elect) he helped spearhead legal opposition to the Obama administrations policies on immigration, environmental protection, health care, and LGBT rights. And hes made a big show of cracking down on violations of Alabamas gun laws, ordering libraries and community centers across the state to remove signs prohibiting fire arms.

But he has also been accused of politicizing the justice system, using the states anti-gambling laws to target casinos in predominantly black counties for alleged violations that his office has allowed at Indian-owned casinos. In 2013, the state seized electronic bingo machines and cash from VictoryLand Casino in Macon County, claiming that they were actually slot machines, which are illegal in the state. A circuit court later ordered Stranges office to return the machines, accusing him of cherry picking his enforcement of the law, because casinos owned by the Poarch Creek Indians are allowed to operate identical machines.

Strange has also brought suit against the tribe, but critics question the sincerity of these efforts. His case was absolutely based on the wrong question, says Bobby Singleton, a Democratic state senator from Greensboro. He knew he had no standing on it.

After the states raid, state Rep. Terri Sewell (D-Birmingham) wrote then-U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder asking him to investigate possible violations of voting rights. The citizens of Greene County in 2003 overwhelmingly voted in favor of state constitutional amendment 743 to authorize electronic bingo in the county, she wrote. The people of Greene County have been repeatedly targeted by the State in politically motivated raids in violation of their constitutional rights.

Strange appears to have benefited from this favoritism. Last March, Robbie McGee, the Poarch Creeks lobbyist, told Global Gaming Business Magazine that the tribe has a definitely more amenable relationship with Strange. At the time, the attorney general was eyeing the race for governor in 2018, and the magazine reported sources contend the Poarch Band has agreed to contribute millions of dollars to the effort.

Its unclear whether this arrangement will remain in place when Strange instead campaigns that year to retain his Senate seat. And now that hes accepted an appointment from a man his office is investigating, his race runs the risk of being an ugly one, especially if the investigation permanently stalls, just as many Alabama political insiders and journalists assume it will.

But while Strange has clearly gotten what he wanted, things might not be so easy for the embattled governor. State lawmakers are hurriedly resuscitating their impeachment hearings, and rumors of an ongoing federal investigation have not abated. And the states case against Bentley isnt dead yet. That investigation is in the hands of Matt Hart, head of the Special Prosecution Unit. A tenacious lawyer, Hart spearheaded the Mike Hubbard case, and a source close to the inquiry said, If Bentley thinks for one minute he can stop Hart by giving Luther his dream job, hes a bigger fool than I thought, according to Alabama Political Reporter.

On Thursday Bentley named as acting attorney general Alice Martin, a former U.S. attorney who, with Hart as her top assistant, won numerous legendary convictions against corrupt Alabama politicians in the early 2000s. Whether Bentley ultimately appoints her or someone else, the new attorney general will be diving into dangerous waters if they quash the investigation of the governor, according to Pamela Pierson, professor at the University of Alabamas law school. Theyre going to ruin their reputation if they do, she says. It could ruin their career.

Anyone associated with a grand jury case could file a complaint with the states bar association, Pierson explains, which could then launch an investigation and ultimately revoke the attorney generals license. Federal prosecutors could also conduct a conflict of interest investigation.

But then again, this is Alabama, where a politicized justice system is the norm. And the man wholl serve as boss to all federal prosecutors is an Alabamian, too. That man, Jefferson Beauregard Sessions III, reportedly lobbied hard for Big Luther to take his place in the Senate.

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The Shady Ascension of Luther Strange - New Republic