Gilley claims Smith solicited bribes for legislators

MONTGOMERY – Country Crossing developer Ronnie Gilley testified Wednesday that Sen. Harri Anne Smith solicited bribes for several legislators during 2009 and 2010, but Smith’s defense claimed Gilley was “out to get” the senator.

“Senator Smith was by and far the biggest recruiting lobbyist we had in Montgomery, by far,” Gilley said during cross examination in the gambling corruption retrial by Smith’s attorney, William White.

According to Gilley, Smith approached him on multiple occasions in 2009 and 2010 to ask him for campaign contributions and other things of value for several different senators she believed could provide favorable votes on pro-gambling legislation.

According to Gilley:

» Smith sought $500,000 in campaign donations for Sen. Scott Beason from Gilley and VictoryLand owner Milton McGregor in early 2009 in exchange for his support of pro-gambling legislation.

“She is the one who orchestrated the whole ordeal for Sen. Beason. Please make a note of that for the record,” Gilley said.

» Smith asked Gilley if he would be willing to pay off the home mortgage for Sen. Kim Benefield in 2009.

» Smith asked Gilley if he would be willing to insure Country Crossing through Sen. Steve French in exchange for his vote, or donate $200,000 to his campaign.

“There were several legislators that she proposed we contribute money to her campaign fund, allow her to build a war chest and she would get money to those legislators,” Gilley said.

White, however, suggested that Gilley was “out to get” Smith for perceived disloyalty.

Smith attorney William White played a recording of a February, 2010, conversation between Smith and then-Rep. Benjamin Lewis in which Lewis said he believed Gilley was a crook and a snake.

“You were upset she didn’t correct Mr. Lewis and you’re here to get her back today, aren’t you?” White asked.

“Absolutely not,” Gilley responded.

White also suggested Gilley’s support of Smith’s campaign had more to do with his dislike of her former supporters than his intention to bribe her and use her to bribe others.

Smith attorney William White questioned Gilley for three hours Wednesday morning, some of which dealt with a fundraiser Gilley held for Smith in December of 2009. Gilley reported more than $217,000 in in-kind donations resulting from the fundraiser held on the BamaJam Festival grounds.

White suggested that Gilley wanted to “make a statement” to past supporters of Smith including John Watson, John Downs and George Flowers. Smith lost the financial support of those and others after she switched her position on Country Crossing.

Gilley denied White’s assertion.

Gilley also denied White’s assertion that he inflated the numbers on the December 2009 fundraiser and used the opportunity to offset the costs of the grand opening event at Country Crossing, held a few days later.

Gilley said he considered the 2009 fundraiser a bribe, and that Smith understood the fundraiser and other donations made by Gilley or through Gilley were for her support of pro-gambling legislation and for her efforts to bring other legislators to the table.

Gilley said he believed some of the money used to pay for the 2009 fundraiser came from McGregor, but White showed bank records that indicated the most recent money wired to his account was $5 million from an investor from Columbus, Ga.

Cross examination of Gilley ended Wednesday after Susan James, attorney for Jay Walker, played a recorded conversation Gilley had with a woman at an unknown date and time. On the recording, Gilley can be heard asking the woman what she was doing. The woman replied “listening to a bunch of (n-word).” Gilley does not respond to the comment other than to chuckle briefly, then moves on in the conversation.

James used the recording to suggest Gilley was not being truthful when he said he was “nauseated” by racially-tinged comments by Sen. Scott Beason and another Republican legislator.

Gilley became angry on the stand and said he resented James’ suggestion. Gilley said he could “fill up the courtroom and probably the whole courthouse” with African-Americans who would vouch for him.