MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - Alabama’s Republican attorney general is accusing his Democratic candidate of being bought by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians because the tribe gave him $750,000 in donations this week.
The contributions, first reported by al.com, went to state Rep. Joe Hubbard’s campaign on Tuesday. The tribe routed the money through three political action committees operated by a member of a lobbying firm that represents the tribe. Then the PACs gave the money to Hubbard’s campaign. In March, Hubbard reported $250,000 in contributions from the same lobbying firm’s PACs, which were funded largely by the tribe at that point.
“I don’t think the people of Alabama want their top prosecutor bought and paid for by Indian casino interests,” Strange said Friday in a news release.
Hubbard said Friday he is not beholding to anyone, and the tribe is looking for a fair and law-abiding person in the attorney general’s office. “His senseless and wasteful war on bingo in Alabama raises questions about who has bought and paid for Luther Strange,” Hubbard said.
Since taking office in 2011, Strange has raided privately operated casinos and has sued the Poarch Creeks to try to shut down their casinos on Indian lands in Wetumpka, Atmore and Montgomery. Last month, a federal judge ruled against the attorney general, and the Creek casinos are still operating.
A tribal spokesman, Robert McGhee, said Strange has wasted taxpayer money and tribal resources with the gaming lawsuits.
“Why wouldn’t the tribe support an individual who understands the sovereignty of the tribe and who wants to focus his efforts on the real issues facing the citizens in the state of Alabama?” McGhee said in a written statement.
In the most recent campaign finance reports, Hubbard reported more than $1 million in cash on hand for his campaign, with the Poarch Creeks being his largest contributor.
Strange reported $1.45 million on hand, with many contributions from business interests, including insurance, utilities and auto dealers.
The two will meet in the general election Nov. 4.
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