BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Alabama Speaker of the House Mike Hubbard took to the airwaves Monday morning to push back against growing calls for him to resign his post.
Last week, several emails between Speaker Hubbard and other politicians, lobbyists, and businessmen in the state were made public when they were filed by the State’s prosecution team. The prosecution believes the emails support their allegations that Hubbard used his official office for personal gain. Hubbard’s defense team criticized the release of the emails for being “bizarre, improper, and non-responsive.”
RELATED: 10 things we learned from emails produced by Hubbard prosecution
During an interview on The Dale Jackson Show Monday morning, Hubbard characterized the prosecution’s decision to release the documents as little more than an attempt to embarrass him.
“I’m deeply disappointed that those involved in this political and personal inquisition of me exhibited such a stunning disregard for the privacy of my business associates and personal friends,” the Speaker said. “Nobody wants to have their private and personal information broadcast on the internet.”
“By them doing it,” he continued, “it served no purpose other than to invade my private personal matters.”
Hubbard defended the emails, particularly those between him and governor-turned-lobbyist Bob Riley, as the private conversations of longtime friends who share something of a father-son relationship.
“You know, everyone has difficult times in their life. I’m sure you have, too, and all your listeners,” Hubbard told Jackson. “When you do, you reach out to someone that is a long-time trusted friend, that is a mentor that you seek advice. That shouldn’t be dumped out for every body to look at, because it can be taken totally out of context.”
The Speaker contends that the entire ordeal has been nothing more than an attempt by a “rogue prosecutor” to smear his — and his friends’ — reputation.
“Nowhere has there ever been any accusation that I said, ‘Okay, now if you do this for me, then I will do this back for you,'” Hubbard explained. “They’re not even saying that I did that.”
“I’m looking forward to us being able to turn the tables and being able to show the prosecutorial misconduct that has taken place,” he added, “and when we do, I believe it’s going to sicken everyone.”
In the emails released by the prosecution, Hubbard at times indicated that financial struggles had compelled him to consider leaving politics to focus on his business. Gov. Riley told him at one point that he needed to, “Quit telling people you may have to step down as Speaker due to financial concerns,” and later advised Hubbard that he may have to choose between his political career and making “a lot of money,” but may not be able to do both.
But Hubbard told Jackson Monday that he was never seriously considering vacating the Speakership, and is far from considering it now.
He went on to accuse the prosecutor of leaking information to the press, as he has contended numerous times since his indictment, noting that the AL.com article covering the the story was published just 23 minutes after the documents were filed.
“I mean, I don’t believe the guy is that quick at being able to read through and sift information and write a story,” the Speaker said. “It’s pretty suspect.”
Jackson and Hubbard went on to discuss the upcoming legislative session and the House GOP’s “Alabama First” agenda.
“We want to be in a position where we can put Alabama first,” Hubbard said, “first in education, first in economic development, first in creating new jobs, and also first in making sure that the rights and the conservative beliefs of Alabamians is put first before we receive these mandates from Washington D.C.”
Jackson asked the Speaker how he felt the Governor’s proposed $584 million tax hike would fare in the State Legislature.
“I don’t see that the Governor’s package will pass in its entirety, and you know it never does,” Hubbard responded, adding that the Governor can only propose a budget while it is the Legislature’s job to introduce and pass a bill.
So, how does the Speaker propose to address the approximately $265 million general fund shortfall?
“We have some ideas and some things that we can do, that also includes, quite frankly, shrinking government even more, and making it more efficient and more consolidation.”
The Alabama State Legislature convenes Tuesday.
You can listen to Alabama House Speaker Mike Hubbard’s entire interview with Dale Jackson by following this link.
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— Elizabeth BeShears (@LizEBeesh) January 21, 2015
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