MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama Attorney General Troy King says he won’t use the power of his office to take control of the electronic bingo dispute in Dothan from the Governor’s Task Force on Illegal Gambling.
Some Dothan officials had asked King to take control of the Country Crossing case, but he declined in letters Tuesday to Houston County Commission Chairman Mark Culver and Gov. Bob Riley.
King said he’s not taking over the case because the governor’s staff has questioned his integrity. The governor’s press secretary pointed out last week that Alabama lead singer Randy Owen is an advocate for Country Crossing in Dothan and is supporting King’s re-election.
King said Riley’s involvement also appears compromised because of allegations of contributions from Indian gambling in 2002.
Riley responded with a letter Tuesday, saying King was repeating “baseless accusations” that gambling interests have hurled against him. The governor added that it would be a dangerous precedent for a public official to step aside from a case because people engaging in illegal activity are making baseless allegations.