Editorial: Riley's Testimony - Correction - WSFA.com: News Weather and Sports for Montgomery, AL.

Editorial: Riley's Testimony - Correction

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By Mark Wilder - email

  • Editorials

  • Thursday, May 23 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-05-23 23:20:04 GMT
    Anyone who takes advantage of one of Alabama's most treasured assets – the elderly – should face swift and steep consequences.  Thanks to a bill passed in the final hours of most recent legislative session that
    Anyone who takes advantage of one of Alabama's most treasured assets – the elderly – should face swift and steep consequences.  Thanks to a bill passed in the final hours of most recent legislative session that

  • Tuesday, May 21 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-05-21 23:20:08 GMT
    The horrific tornadoes that ripped through Oklahoma this week bring back all too familiar memories for Alabamians as memories of April 27, 2011 are still fresh in many minds. When Alabamians were in need
    The horrific tornadoes that ripped through Oklahoma this week bring back all too familiar memories for Alabamians as memories of April 27, 2011 are still fresh in many minds. When Alabamians were in need

  • Thursday, May 16 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-05-16 23:20:04 GMT
    In my editorial on Tuesday I chided our legislators for being the last state to pass a no-brainer  bill legalizing home brewing.  Today I want to challenge them to be one of the first states to pass another no-brainer;
    In my editorial on Tuesday I chided our legislators for being the last state to pass a no-brainer  bill legalizing home brewing.  Today I want to challenge them to be one of the first states to pass another no-brainer;
    •   

This editorial aired on Tuesday, June 7th.  There was an error in the use of the word "blocked" in the 4th paragraph.  The correct word should have been "modified".  My apologies.

Unless you just tuned in and have been under a rock since April of last year, you know that what may turn out to be one of the most significant trials in Alabama history began this week.

9 defendants, including 4 state senators, are accused of bribery, fraud and conspiracy in buying and selling votes regarding the legality of gambling casinos in Alabama.

It was that issue… the legality of bingo machines… that Governor Riley tried to address through his illegal gambling task force months before this corruption investigation began.

Riley has been subpoenaed to testify in the trial, but has asked that his subpoena be blocked modified due to an Alaskan motorcycle vacation he has had planned for some time.

It is not a stretch of logic to suggest that, had it not been for Governor Riley, the corruption investigation, subsequent indictments, and this week's trial may have never taken place.

If it is purely a matter of inconvenience for Riley, and if it comes down to going on vacation or testifying, the governor  needs to put that trip off until next summer.

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