Part 2: Contributions and the Star Chamber

The cash keeps on coming.

On Friday we called on state criminal and ethics investigators to look at a donation made by Hare, Wynn, Newell & Newton to Alabama State Senator Rodger Smitherman. He is the husband of Judge Carole Smitherman who created an unconstitutional and secretive Star Chamber in the Newsome Conspiracy Case.

The complete sealing of the case was strongly advocated by the embattled law firm Balch & Bingham.

Today, we take a look at another curiosity: two $5,000 contributions made by NEWPAC to  Senator Smitherman on October 17, 2017 and last month on November 20, 2017. (Read the documentation here.)

NEWPAC is run by Clark D. Fine, a former attorney at Balch & Bingham.

The two major (and only) contributors this year to NEWPAC is Protective Life Corp. and Great Southern Wood Preserving.

Andrew Buck, the Senior Associate Counsel and Vice President at Protective Life, was a partner at Balch & Bingham for 12 years.

Great Southern Wood Preserving is a client of Balch & Bingham and Balch has represented them as lead attorneys in federal court.

Just coincidences? Just an example of the tentacles Balch & Bingham has and nothing more?

And just like Hare, Wynn, Newell & Newton these donations are a first.

A review of 124 contributions made by NEWPAC since 2013 shows these are the first two contributions they made to Smitherman, according to the state’s digital records.

Why now? Why Smitherman? What were they trying to influence?

Although there has been a solid and absolute blackout of the proceeding in the Newsome Conspiracy Case, we do know from a scheduling order in July, the trial was to have begun on October 16.

Could the Smithermans be making unwise decisions while having pillow talk or not? For the sake of judicial integrity,  a deeper and more robust investigation must be launched and welcomed by both Smithermans.