Part 3: Drummond’s Milk for Smitherman?

[Update down below.]

As we pointed out last month, Senator Rodger Smitherman, the husband of  Judge Carole Smitherman received three contributions from two donors that raises the investigative question:

Were donors attempting to influence the judge through her husband, or not?

The contributions appear to come at critical times in the Newsome Conspiracy Case that Judge Smitherman is presiding over.

Today, we take a look at another contribution:  $5,000 donated by BIPAC to  Senator Smitherman on November 16, 2017 (Read the documentation here.)

Like NEWPAC, the second contribution we profiled, BIPAC is run by Clark D. Fine, a former attorney at Balch & Bingham.

On November 15, 2017, BIPAC received $10,000 from Drummond, whose executive was indicted along with two Balch partners in September in the Oliver Robinson Bribery Scandal.

The next day, two $5,000 checks were cut: one to Smitherman, and the second to the re-election campaign of Jefferson County Sheriff Mike Hale.

Was it a “pay through” donation, or not?

And just like Hare, Wynn, Newell & Newton and NEWPAC, this donation to Senator Smitherman is another first.

A review of 126 contributions made by BIPAC since 2013 shows these is the first contribution they made to Smitherman, according to the state’s digital records.

Since the Newsome case is operated under a secret Star Chamber, we have no idea what was occuring in November.

We now have three generous first time contributors to Smitherman.

Why now? Why Smitherman? What were they trying to influence? or is it all just a coincidence?

[UPDATE: A third political action committee tied to former Balch & Bingham attorney Clark D. Fine called CANPAC received a $10,000 donation from Drummond on the same day BIPAC did, November 15, 2017.

A check for $2,500 was issued to the Rodger Smitherman campaign right after Thanksgiving. Read the campaign finance report here. ]