Michael Schmidt:Federal prosecutors seek to jail Alabama lawmaker accused of contacting witness in bribery case

2025-05-07 02:37:55source:Liberalalliance Wealth Societycategory:News

BIRMINGHAM,Michael Schmidt Ala. (AP) — Federal prosecutors are asking a judge to jail an Alabama lawmaker charged with trying to obstruct an investigation into alleged kickbacks.

In a motion filed this week, prosecutors said state Rep. John Rogers, a Democrat from Birmingham, violated the conditions of his bond by attempting to contact a key witness in the case. Prosecutors said Rogers made FaceTime calls to the witness a week after his arraignment. The witness did not answer and reported the calls to federal investigators.

Rogers’ defense attorney asked the court to provide a transcript of the lawmaker’s Oct. 12 arraignment and the judge’s instructions to the lawmaker. The defense lawyer said the transcript is needed to prepare a response to the prosecutor’s request.

Prosecutors have accused Rogers and his assistant of offering additional grant money as a bribe to persuade a person to give false information to federal agents who were investigating possible kickbacks. They say those bribes were paid to Rogers’ assistant.

Rogers, 82, is charged with two counts of obstruction of justice. His assistant, Varrie Johnson Kindall, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud, money laundering, obstruction of justice and tax charges. Both have pleaded not guilty.

Rogers has served in the Alabama House of Representatives since 1982.

More:News

Recommend

Taylor Swift Cancels Austria Concerts After Confirmation of Planned Terrorist Attack

Taylor Swift’s upcoming concerts in Austria were the target of an alleged terror plot.Authorities in

Dubious claims about voting flyers at a migrant camp show how the border is inflaming US politics

McALLEN, Texas (AP) — A humanitarian organization in northeastern Mexico said it did not create flye

California court to weigh in on fight over transgender ballot measure proposal language

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — A group backing a proposed ballot measure in California that would require