BestCraps.com

Alabama Legislator Says There Will Be Indictments From Grand Jury Probe

Posted on May 7th, 2010

News Sponsored by Online Vegas Casino

Rated 5 Stars by BestCraps.com

Read Review

Visit Casino

Download Software

————————————————

A lawmaker who was called before the Alabama grand jury Wednesday to give information about the involvement of any possible form of corruption on a bingo bill said he believes the grand jury will find probable cause to issue indictments. The bill, a proposed constitutional amendment, would have let Alabama voters decide whether to approve legalized and regulated electronic bingo casinos in the state or reject them.

A teary-eyed Barry Mask, a Republican Representative from Wetumpka, faced reporters after testifying before the grand jury, and was filled with emotion. He told reporters that he informed the grand jury of “a lot of shenanigans going on,” but he did not divulge details to reporters for fear of harming the investigation.

He said he had previously talked to federal authorities in their investigation of possible monetary offers in connection with the bingo bill, and Mask said he is positive indictments involving the Legislature will result from the grand jury probe.”The state deserves a lot better than what has gone on in this body the last four months,” Mask said.

Mask, a member of the House Tourism and Travel Committee that approved the bingo bill, said he absented himself on the day the committee voted because he was bothered by the bill and by the thought that the committee has been giving automatic approvals for gambling bills.”If it’s this corrupt before we have it, just think what it would be after,” he said. The other lawmakers summoned by the grand jury said they had no information to tell the jurors regarding any possible vote buying. Rep. Mac Gipson, R-Prattville who voted against the bill in the committee said he told jurors he does not recall anything particularly improper. Gipson said the panel asked him about lobbyists Joe Fine, Bob Geddie and Jarrod Massey, who were supporters of the bill. He was also asked about two Southern Baptist ministers Joe Godfrey and Dan Ireland who were lobbying against it.

Gipson said he was also asked about lobbyist Clair Austin, who “helps me raise money for my campaign,” and who also helps Massey, a lobbyist for the Country Crossing casino in Dothan. He said the panel asked him if gambling operators are among the donors of campaign contributions to political action committees, to which he said there was no way of knowing because contributions are combined in a political action committee before the committee gives to a campaign. Other legislators who faced the grand jury Wednesday morning were Sen. Priscilla Dunn D-Bessemer, Sen. Hinton Mitchem, D-Union Grove and Sen. Kim Benefield, D-Woodland.