State of Alabama Political Scandals

This article provides a list of political scandals which occurred in the State of Alabama. It is organized in reverse chronological order from most recent to oldest.

Politician is defined as “a person who is professionally involved in politics”, and includes not only those elected to office, their staffs and appointees, but also those who routinely work in politics such as pollsters. Major officials of political parties and their staffs, as well as those elected by their party to be candidates are also included. Local politicians, mayors, sheriffs, and county officials should not be included.

Scandal is defined as "loss of, or damage to, reputation caused by actual or apparent violation of morality or propriety". Breaking the law is always considered a scandal. The finding of a public court is the sole method used to determine a violation of law, but it is not the sole method of determining a scandal.

Please note that all people are considered innocent until proven guilty. Allegations of misconduct do not imply guilt nor do admissions of guilt in the absence of a conviction. Investigations that end without a determination do not imply innocence.

Breaches of ethics, unproven crimes or cover-ups may or may not result in inclusion depending on the amount of publicity generated, and the seriousness of the crime, if any. Notoriety and notability are a major determinant of a scandal. Politicians who resign, quit, flee, or commit suicide while being investigated or threatened with investigation may also be included.

Different scandals on different dates may result in multiple listings.

The list does not include crimes that occur outside the politician's tenure (such as before or after his term in office) unless they specifically stem from acts made while in office, such as bribery, and discovered later.

Given the political nature of legislatures where the leading party has determining power, politicians who are Rebuked, Denounced, Censured, Admonished, Condemned, Suspended, Reprimanded, Found in Contempt, Found to have Acted Improperly, or of using Poor Judgment are not included unless the scandal is exceptional or leads to further action such as expulsion, conviction or resignation.

Executive pardons may or may not be mentioned, but do not erase the scandal. The verdict and legal proceedings are not affected by pardons, but may affect the sentence.

State of Alabama

• Fred Plump (D) State Representative from Fairfield in District 55, was accused of criminal conspiracy and obstruction of justice for channeling $200,000 in Jefferson County Community Service Funds to a seperate party in a kickback scheme and then tried to obstruct the investigation. He resigned. (2023)^[1][2]

• David Burkette (D) State Senator from Montgomery in District 26, was accused of violating Campaign Fair Practices for using $3,625 of campaign funds personal use. He pled guilty to a misdemeanor charge in a sealed plea bargain, and resigned his seat. (2020)^[3][4]

• David Cole (R) State Representative of Huntsville in District 10 was arrested on charges of not living in the district he voted from. He was found guilty of felony voter fraud and was sentenced to 60 days in jail, agree to return all the money he earned as a Representative and resign. (2023)^[5]

• Will Dismukes (R) State Representative from Prattville in the 88th District, was accused of theft of money, materials and services from his former employer by billing the company for work not done. He was found guilty and sentenced to five years of community service with two years of probation. He was also required to repay $48, 691 in restitution. (2020)^[6][7]

• Ed Henry (Alabama politician) (R) State Representative from Hartselle in the 9th District, was indicted on fourteen charges in an alleged kickback scheme with a chronic care management company. He pled guilty to one count, sentenced to two years probation and fined $4,000. (2018)^[8]

• Oliver Robinson Jr. (D) State Representative from the 58th District, was accused of conspiracy, fraud and bribery in return for his influence to limit the expansion of an EPA Super Fund site for which Drummond Inc. coal processing company was responsible. Robinson was found guilty and sentenced to 33 months in federal prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release. (2017)^[9][10]

• Roy S. Moore (R) Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court, ordered Alabama Probate Judges to refuse to issue same-sex marriage licenses in defiance of federal law and a U.S. Supreme Court ruling. He was found guilty of six violations by the Alabama Court of the Judiciary, was suspended from office and resigned. (2016)^[11]

• Chris Epps ( ) Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Corrections, was investigated during an FBI case called Operation Mississippi Hustle. Epps was accused of receiving bribes and kickbacks of about $1.5 million from companies that provided services to the state prison system. He was found guilty, resigned and was sentenced to 235 months in prison and fined $100,000. (2015)^[12][13]

• Deann K. Stone (R) Director of Federal Programs for the Alabama Department of Education was convicted of a scheme in which she directed Federal Education Funds to a school district that would hire her husband’s firm, who would also receive a bonus. She was sentenced to six months in prison with four years of probation. (2015)^[14][15]

• Robert J. Bentley (R) Governor, was accused of having an affair with his Chief Advisor, Rebekah Mason. An investigation revealed one ethics violation and three campaign fund violations. Impeachment proceedings had been scheduled when he resigned. He pled guilty and was sentenced to 30 days in jail, suspended, one year probation and 100 hours of community service. (2015)^[16][17]

• Mike Hubbard (politician) (R) State Representative from the 79th District and Speaker of the House, was accused of receiving bribes and kickbacks from several companies with which the state was doing business. Hubbard resigned and was convicted of felony ethic violations, sentenced to four years in prison, with eight years of probation and fined $210,000. (2014)^[18]

• Greg Wren (R) State Representative from Montgomery in the 75th District, pled guilty to knowingly using his office for personal gain by selling privileged information to RxAlly, a company that represents pharmacies, for $24,000. He was found guilty, resigned his position and was sentenced to twelve months in prison, suspended, with two years probation and fined $24,000. (2014)^[19]

• Micky Hammon (R) State Representative from Decatur in the 4th District and House Majority Leader, was accused of taking money from his campaign account and using it for personal expenses. He pled guilty to a felony count of mail fraud which required him to resign from the House. He was sentenced to three months in prison. (2014)^[20][21]

• Terry Spicer (D) State Representative from the 91st District, was accused of accepting bribes and illegal campaign contributions from real estate developers and pro-gambling bingo lobbyists. He pled guilty to bribery and was sentenced to 57 months in prison. (2011)^[22][23]

• Edward McClain (Alabama politician) (D) State Senator from the 19th District, in league with a local non-profit organization, was convicted on 48 counts of money laundering, mail fraud, bribery and conspiracy for stealing over $300,000 in funds from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs. (2009)^[24][25]

• Don Siegelman (D) Governor, was accused of accepting campaign donations for favors. In a politically controversial and contested trial, Siegelman was found guilty of bribery, mail fraud and obstruction of justice and sentenced to 88 months. (2006)^[26][27]

• Suzanne L. Schmidt (D) State Representative, was accused of creating a community relations job for herself and of receiving $177,251 in pay while doing little or no work. She was found guilty of three counts of fraud and theft sentenced to 30 months in prison. (2009)^[28]

• Roy S. Moore (R) Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court, placed and then refused to remove a 2 ½ ton monument of the Ten Commandments from the Alabama Judiciary Building. The US Supreme Court ruled this to be a violation of the First Amendment and ordered it removed. When Moore refused, the Alabama Court of the Judiciary ruled he was violating Alabama Ethics rules and ordered the monument removed. Moore was removed from office. (2003)^[29][30]

• Jimmy Butts ( ) Director of the State Transportation Department, pled guilty to accepting a $162,000 bribe from the Vision Land amusement company that funneled cash to his son's auto racing career, in exchange for his support of a new freeway exit ramp. He was found guilty and sentenced to fifteen months in prison. (2000)^[31]

• Bryant Melton (D) State Representative from Tuscaloosa, was investigated in a federal probe of funding in Alabama’s two year college program when it was discovered that Melton had obtained $68,000 in government funds in a money laundering scheme with The Alabama Fire College foundation. He pled guilty, resigned from his seat and was given a 15-month sentence. (2006)^[32][33]

• H. Guy Hunt (R) Governor, was convicted of improperly using campaign funds for personal use. He was found guilty, resigned his office and was sentenced to 5 years probation, 1,000 hours of community service and fined $212,000. (1993)^[34][35]