WSFA Great Article About Electronic Bongo and Sad State of Affairs Of Attorney General Office

Rickey Stokes

Viewed: 3470

Posted by: RStokes
Date: Jun 30 2015 11:58 AM

Great article by WSFA on electronic bingo and comments made by Former Alabama Attorney General Troy King.

Folks, you see Troy King did not let Bob Riley bully him. He stood for what was right. However, the voters of Alabama did let Former Alabama Governor Bob Riley bully and conduct a smear campaign on Troy King.

Thus we ended up with Luther Strange. And oh what a mistake that was!

WSFA Article

MACON CO., AL (WSFA) - The question over legality of electronic bingo in Macon County has been hanging in the balance since 2008. Troy King was the Attorney General, and the gambling task force was in the Governor Bob Riley's Office.

King says sadly, the conversation hasn't changed.

“The legality of electronic bingo has been an elusive legal conclusion since this started,” King explained.

King was forward in saying Macon County's constitutional amendment allowed Victoryland to operate electronic bingo, even using the Cornerstone Rules, developed by the Alabama Supreme Court, an unpopular political stance at the time.  

King says last week's ruling was vindication.

“I did find validation that what we did was right,” King stated. “It's what we have been saying all along, and it's frustrating that
we continue to have this conversation. Maybe one day we will wake up and it won't be Groundhog Day again.” 

During the 2014 trial, Victoryland attorneys worked to expose politics in the AG's investigation into Victoryland. Macon County's amendment
does not use the word “electronic,” but attorneys put on multiple witnesses to prove the voter intent for Macon County's amendment was for electronic bingo. 

King says this should be a factor in the high court's decision.

“When you follow the law, you have to look at intent,” King explained. “For hundreds of years in this country, that's how we decided what the law means.”

At the time when the battle over bingo hit a fever pitch, the gaming task force was operated out of the governor's office. After King left office, the prosecutorial arm dedicated to bingo cases moved to the AG's Office. 

In the last year, the veteran bingo prosecutor and an investigator were terminated. 

King admits, while the definition of “expert” may differ, those with the most experience are no longer on the payroll, proving even more difficult in the future bingo proceedings. 

“One of the real issues on appeal is the state presented no case. When the state presents no experts and no evidence, you are suppose to take everything from the defense says to be correct,” King said. “The state in my opinion faces an uphill battle. If they put the evidence on the scales, I don't know what's on the state's side of the scale.”

King continues to push for a statewide referendum on electronic gaming, giving residents the ultimate decision.  

The last time a potential vote on a referendum came up in the state house, lawmakers and casino owners and operators were indicted in a federal corruption case, all who had their day in court were acquitted. For this reason, among others, lawmakers are reluctant to broach the issue. 

“There's going to be a vote on electronic gaming in this state,” King said. “The question is will it be nine people who wear robes or two
million people who live in this state?”

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