Former legislator Oliver Robinson from Birmingham charged with bribery conspiracy, pleads guilty

From Trussville Tribune staff reports

BIRMINGHAM – Oliver L. Robinson, Jr. – a former Alabama legislator – has been charged by the U.S. Attorney’s office with bribery aimed at influencing opposition to an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) project in North Birmingham. Robinson has pleaded guilty and entered into a plea deal with prosecutors.

Robinson is accused of accepting $360,000 dollars through a non-profit organization that he controlled. At least $250,000 was used by Robinson for personal items. The payments allegedly came from an attorney at Balch and Bingham on behalf of their client Drummond Coal-ABC Coke. The investigation is continuing.

Photo from CBS 42.

A press release by the Department of Justice said that Robinson allegedly accepted bribes from an Alabama coal company executive and a lawyer from Birmingham law firm Balch & Bingham.

The purpose of the bribes were to “pressure and advise public officials to oppose EPA’s prioritization and expansion of a North Birmingham EPA Superfund site.”

“This case gets at the heart of public corruption in Alabama,” said U.S. Attorney Robert Posey, who charged Robinson. “Well-funded special interests offer irresistible inducements to public officials. In exchange, the officials represent the interests of those who pay rather than the interests of those who vote.”