Alabama speaker's former chief of staff takes stand

Source: Associated Press

Alabama speaker's former chief of staff takes stand

Kim Chandler, Associated Press

Updated 6:59 pm, Wednesday, May 25, 2016



OPELIKA, Ala. (AP) — Alabama House Speaker Mike Hubbard's former chief of staff testified Wednesday that he became uncomfortable at times when Hubbard's personal business dealings appeared to intersect with the official functions of his office.

Josh Blades— who for four years served as Hubbard's top aide — provided emotional testimony as a prosecution witness at Hubbard's ethics trial. Blades described Hubbard as a "friend" and "good boss," but his voice shook as he recalled times when he was upset and concerned about his former boss's words and actions.

Blades said he was uncomfortable when Hubbard told him he had "one hundred thousand reasons" to help a maker of drinking cups quickly get a patent approved.

. . .

Hubbard had asked Blades to reach out to the patent office and a Mississippi congressman who sat on a patent oversight board. Blades said he only later learned that Hubbard had a consulting contract with the cup company.



Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/crime/article/Prosecution-defense-offer-opposite-views-of-7944052.php