Follow up on Sue Schmitz
The Huntsville Times story on now former Rep. Schmitz’s conviction on seven of eight federal fraud and mail fraud charges is online now. Here’s the real tear jerker:
First came “not guilty” on the first mail fraud charge, giving hope to Schmitz’s partisans. But then came, “We find the defendant guilty” on the next three mail fraud charges and the four general fraud charges.
Couldn’t have written that script better myself.
Schmitz now faces serious jail time.
The mail fraud charges have a penalty of up to 20 years in prison each; the general fraud charges 10 years each.
The conviction likely sent shock waves through the Alabama legislature and the upper echelons of the AEA. Schmitz was convicted of fraud in connection with a phony job where she did little work. Basically the AEA and powerful legislators set her up there so that she could draw taxpayer dollars with no work product in return. She wasn’t the only legislator with such a cushy arrangement and judgement day may be on the horizon for more.
So, who’s next? Birmingham News reports on Ken Guin’s two two-year college jobs where he was paid nearly $100k per year and did very little tangible work come to mind.
Anyone care to take a guess on the over/under for how many Democrat legislators have to go to prison before the legislature enacts meaningful ethics reforms? Schmitz makes three. Given that they are currently trying to weaken the already pitiful state ethics board doesn’t make me think three is going to be the magic number. I’m guessing six.
