MONTGOMERY, AL (WSFA) – More officials are reacting following the conviction of House Speaker Mike Hubbard on 12 felony ethics violations Friday night. Hubbard was immediately removed from office.
Following the guilty verdict, Hubbard was taken into custody by Lee County sheriff's deputies, though not placed in handcuffs, and escorted from the courtroom. Judge Jacob Walker set his bond at $160,000.
Just before 11 p.m. Friday, Hubbard emerged from the Lee County Jail, jumped into his bail bondsman's black Corvette and sped from the jail through the grass.
Attorney General Luther Strange spoke at the Mid-Alabama Republican Club meeting Saturday in Vestavia Hills.
During his interview, Strange made the following statement about Hubbard's conviction on 12 ethics charges:
"It was my top priority, when I came into office, to set up a public integrity unit that would make a priority of holding our public off accountable. It's important for our system of government, it's important that the citizens know that someone is going to hold people accountable. That's what this unit did. All politicians in Alabama should be on notice that they're going to be held accountable. That's what the people expect and that's what our office will do."
Gov. Robert Bentley also released a statement Saturday. He didn't directly address the verdict or Hubbard but focused on moving the state forward:
“Alabama is strong because our people are strong. As leaders we were placed here to serve our people and that is exactly what we are going to continue to do. God has assigned us to this task, and we will work hard to honor Him. I have the utmost confidence in the men and women of the Alabama Legislature. We will all continue working together to solve the real problems facing our state and to help Alabamians. We will pass a balanced budget that funds essential state services, create well-paying jobs and care for our sick, our elderly and our children. No matter how difficult the challenge, the people of this state will know we are working hard every day to serve them.”
Several other officials have also responded following the conviction of Hubbard.
Hubbard's trial lasted three weeks and included testimony from dozens of witnesses, including Bentley and former Gov. Bob Riley.
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