Open Letter to ALGOP

Dear Chairman Hubbard and Members of the ALGOP Executive Committee,

The time has come to encourage your expeditious review of Troy King's actions as attorney general which directly contradict the conservative principles of the Republican Party. As Alabamians prepare to head to the polls in June, they deserve the full facts regarding their political candidates as well as the exposure of any ulterior motives which may guide these candidates. In 2008, when Paul Hubbert and AEA bosses attempted to bankroll liberal candidates in a Republican primary to take on principled conservatives, you took immediate action to make clear to voters that these individuals were attempting to sabotage the system. While we applaud your willingness to stand up in the face of unethical actions by the AEA, we ask you to make a similar stand in the face of opportunistic gambling kingpins and liberal trial lawyers. We also ask that you protect other Republican candidates in the 2010 elections from scandal by directly acting to condemn a candidate responsible for serious, egregious violations of basic ethical principles and good governance.

First, Troy King has been supported by gaming interests who are seeking to use the attorney general's office as an opportunity to undermine the rule of law in Alabama. On February 19, 2009, your Executive Committee unanimously agreed to a resolution opposing the expansion of illegal gambling in Alabama in the face of expansion attempts by gambling interests. Leaders in Alabama, including Governor Riley and members of the Alabama Legislature, stood up to condemn these actions by gambling kingpins. However, Attorney General King has refused to take a similar stance, creating a needlessly complex legal dilemma which is both a source of embarrassment and confusion. When the Sweet Home Alabama Coalition pushed for a backdoor approach to legalizing gambling and establishing a gambling monopoly for Milton McGregor, the Demopolis Times noted that "Alabama attorney general Troy King has been quiet on this issue when he should be leading the charge" on the gambling question. On July 7, the Birmingham News called Troy King a "powerful defender" of electronic bingo. In June 2009, Governor Riley also blamed King for the rise of illegal slot machines, stating: "The first place I would have gone had I been attorney general and received this letter [pertaining to gambling] was to Whitehall and these other places to shut them down...The attorney general didn't do that and the end result is a proliferation of these illegal slot machines that we now see all over this state." We would also point to a letter from Governor Riley dated January 29, 2010, which alleges that King's actions "show more concern for the casino bosses in Alabama than for the enforcement of the law by dedicated law enforcement officials" as evidence which seriously questions King's actions. These actions on the part of Mr. King raise clear doubts on his ability to adhere to the conservative principles endorsed by ALGOP.

Troy King has maintained questionable relationships with these gaming interests which both threaten conservative candidates in Alabama and obscure Troy King's ability to fairly decide the gaming issue. King attended a party as a guest of honor hosted by developer Ronnie Gilley. King then issued an opinion supporting Gilley's ability to maintain gaming devices at his Country Crossing development. His opinion has ignited a political firestorm which has undermined the efforts of Governor Riley in guaranteeing that the decisions of the Alabama Supreme Court relating to gambling are enforced. As many have responsibly noted, the law in Alabama regarding gambling was clear until Troy King became attorney general. Troy King also maintains questionable ties with Milton McGregor and AEA head Paul Hubbert, the two men the Executive Committee claimed "have joined together in an alliance to push for the passage of gambling legislation that will significantly increase the flow of special interest money into the Democrat Party coffers." Birmingham News Political Action Committee (PAC) information from 2006, King received contributions from PACs with significant ties to Milton McGregor and AEA. By tracing different PACs, king received PAC money from a PAC supported by CANPAC, a PAC receiving $275,000 from Milton McGregor and $25,000 from AEA. King also received funding from Fine-Geddie operated PACs. Milton McGregor gave $275,000 to Fine-Geddie PACs. Troy King has refused to substantively address these concerns which call into question his ability to make honest decisions regarding gambling in Alabama.

Second, Troy King has used his position as attorney general to provide lucrative contracts to liberal trial lawyers, namely Montgomery attorney Jere Beasley, a liberal trial lawyer who is heading Artur Davis' campaign. King has hired Beasley's firm to sue pharmaceutical companies under the auspices of the state of Alabama. Similar practices have been a source of ethical concern in a number of states, including Georgia. This process has also strongly criticized by the Federalist Society and conservative jurist and former Alabama attorney general Bill Pryor. Additionally, King's actions have been rebuked by the Alabama Supreme Court which threw out jury rulings on an 8-1 decision, much to the acclaim of conservatives who support reforms to our legal system which make it more difficult for liberal trial lawyers to engage in abusive lawsuits.

King has also received extensive support from these liberal trial lawyers who are opposed to the conservative principles of the Republican Party. As the Washington Times noted on October 20, 2009, King has received questionable PAC contributions connected with Jere Beasley. King has also received support from Beasley's online political update--the Jere Beasley Report, a report typically devoted to supporting liberal causes like national health care. These questionable associations and actions on the part of Troy King raise serious questions about his fitness to serve as a Republican candidate in 2010. This coupled with a federal grand jury investigation into his actions in the office pose a serious threat to our Party if he is allowed to stand as a candidate in June.

As proud Republicans and conservatives, we ask you to investigate King's actions and provide clear information to Alabama voters. We deserve a true conservative on the ballot in November, not someone who masquerades as a conservative in order to obscure the true issues which are of vital importance to our state. Again, we applaud your efforts in 2008 to separate pseudo-Republicans from true conservatives. Your actions prevented the AEA from being able to take advantage of the people of Alabama. Today, we ask that you make a similar stand against gaming bosses and trial lawyers. The time has come for clarity. If we do not act as conservatives to separate the good candidates from the bad, liberals will use this opportunity to undermine all of our conservative candidates. For these reasons, we encourage your urgent action on this matter.

Sincerely,
Alabama Conservatives