Blog: Ex-Alabama governor asked to testify in gaming trial

Friday, June 10, 2011  

"Before Bob Riley motorcycles north to Alaska this summer, he might have to drive south to the federal courthouse in Montgomery as a witness in the bingo corruption trial.

VictoryLand dog track and bingo casino owner Milton McGregor subpoenaed Riley to testify in his federal trial on charges of bribing legislators to pass electronic bingo legislation in 2009 and 2010. The legislation failed in the House in the 2010 session after federal and state authorities announced a bingo corruption probe.

Riley is trying to get out of the subpoena, because for the longest time he had a motorcycle trip to Alaska planned after he left the governor’s office. Besides, he said, he doesn’t know anything about alleged incriminating taped telephone calls between defendants.

But that isn’t what Riley would be asked. Former state legislator and political writer Steve Flowers of Troy figures that Riley, if he has to come down from Clay County, will be asked about an alleged $13 million campaign contribution from Mississippi Indian casino interests to his 2002 gubernatorial campaign."

Get the Story:
Capitol Insider: North or south (The Gadsen Times 6/9)