By Bill Britt
Alabama Political Reporter
MONTGOMERY—Speaker of the House Mike Hubbard has spent over $70,000 to pay for his legal defense, which he took directly out of his December campaign contributions.
FCPA filings with the Secretary of State show that Hubbard’s personal campaign account raised $114,450.00 in December. Of that fund raised, Hubbard paid $46,475.77 to White, Arnold & Dowd and $25,135.00 to Trussell, Funderburg, Rea and Bell.
Prominent white-collar criminal defense attorney J. Mark White was engaged by Hubbard around the first of September, 2013. White said that his original task was to investigate those who were making false statements against the Speaker and his family.
Lance Bell of Trussell, Funderburg, Rea and Bell of Pell City was also hired as part of White’s team.
An attorney familiar with White’s law practice and background said, that the $46K was a low monthly fee for the kind of services White offers. The attorney suggested that Hubbard may only be paying half his monthly legal fees out of his campaign account.
While it is legal under Alabama law for Hubbard to use his personal campaign funds for his legal defense, it is unclear if those who are contributing to Hubbard realize their money is being used to pay his defense team.
Hubbard is believed to be at the center of the Attorney General’s Special Grand Jury in Lee County. Perhaps more than 30 lawmakers, staffers and lobbyists have appeared before the Grand Jury being conducted by Matt Hart, the head of the State’s white collar crime division.
Speculation has been rampant over the holidays as activity in Lee County has slowed. Just before Christmas, the Special Attorney General Van Davis was seen at the Lee County Court House leading many to believe that the Grand Jury’s investigation was reaching a conclusion.
In December, Hubbard received large checks from a number of the State’s biggest political action committee, including $10,000 from ALABAMA REALTORS PAC, ABC MERIT PAC, and BIPAC. Hubbard also received $5000 from the Trial Laws, as well other notable PACS.
