Gov. Robert Bentley testified for about 20 minutes today that he thought House Speaker Mike Hubbard was acting in his position as speaker during meetings — meetings that occurred while Hubbard's company was being paid as an economic development consultant for a natural gas company — to recruit industries, according to reports.Hubbard has denied wrongdoing.
SEAGD paid Hubbard's Auburn Network $12,000 a month initially, and a total of $209,000 during 2012 and 2013 to help recruit businesses to the district, reports state.
Deputy Attorney General John Gibbs asked Bentley about a meeting about recruiting an employer.
Bentley said he remembered meeting with Hubbard about the project.
"Do you understand you were meeting with him in his capacity as speaker of the House?" Gibbs asked.
"I did," Bentley said. "He is speaker of the House."
Gibbs also asked the governor about meeting with Hubbard about efforts to recruit a company to the Dothan Airport. Bentley said he believed that Hubbard was acting in his capacity during those meetings and at meetings they attended during the Paris Air Show in 2013.
During a cross-examination, Hubbard lawyer Bill Baxley asked Bentley about whether other people would see Hubbard as someone other than house speaker. For example, "his wife sees him as husband, his children see him as father and his neighbors see him as neighbor."
Bentley reportedly agreed.
Baxley also asked if there was anything illegal or unethical about the help Hubbard sought on the projects. Bentley said there was not, and that the projects were "in the best interest of the state."
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