No Gambling Ruling In Alabama; Task Force Contributions Questioned

Governor Robert Riley has been taking a lot of heat from the people of Alabama since the head of his Task Force on Illegal Gambling submitted a letter of resignation. On Wednesday, news surfaced of possible campaign contributions to his new choice to lead the Task Force.

Early Wednesday, a judge ruled that there was no reason for him to rule in the case of Country Crossings, because the original search warrant for the establishment had expired. He alerted both sides that he needed to clarify with the state Supreme Court whether or not he had the authority to rule on other matters involving the case.

The Task Force had been set to raid Country Crossings, Alabama's newest entertainment facility. Just hours before the expected raid, however, a judge signed off on an order that stopped the raid from taking place. The hearing on Wednesday was set for another judge to rule on the case, but the search warrant had already expired.

Also on Wednesday, reports surfaced about the new Task Force leader, John Tyson. Tyson was chosen by Riley to oversee the Task Force, but reports now have Tyson linked to campaign contributions that came from gambling interests.

Tyson reportedly raised $1.1 million in 2006 when running for Attorney general of Alabama. Tyson received around $100,000 of that money from political action committees that took contributions from the Poarch Creek Band of Indians, a tribe that runs several different gambling facilities.

Riley's previous Task Force leader, David Barber, resigned after it was learned that he had won a jackpot at a casino in Mississippi. Tyson on Wednesday denied that he had any connections to the gambling interest groups.

January 27, 2010
Posted By Tom Jones
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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