LaPierre Will Testify Against Mayor Langford

Lobbyist Al LaPierre accepts plea deal with federal government.

Along with Mary Buckelew that means two witnesses will testify against Mayor Langford in the muni-bond scandal:

Lobbyist Al LaPierre today has agreed to plead guilty and testify in the federal criminal case against Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford. In a deal struck this morning, LaPierre will plead guilty to conspiracy and one count of filing a false tax return, said his lawyer Tommy Spina.The deal requires LaPierre to testify in the Aug. 31 case against Langford and Montgomery investment banker Bill Blount. "He felt this was the right thing to do. He know he has to pay a consequence. He accepts that and will hold his head up," Spina said.

LaPierre has agreed to forfeit $371,932 and pay all taxes due from 2003 to 2006. LaPierre is expected to formally enter the plea Thursday before U.S. District Judge Scott Coogler.

Langford, Montgomery investment banker Bill Blount and lobbyist Al LaPierre are charged in a 101-count indictment accusing them of mail fraud, bribery, money laundering and conspiracy in relation to complicated county bond swaps during Langford's tenure as Jefferson County Commission president.

Lapiere was what we would call a bagman, not that these actions are isolated to Alabama Democrats:

Another aspect of pay for play, and one more likely to land a politician in jail is CDR's tactic of finding friends, fundraisers and associates of elected Democrats, and hiring them as "Consultants". In New Mexico it was Richardson friend Mike Stratton who was hired by CDR. On a side note the Director of Si Se Puede Fred Duval was hired by UBS ,a Swiss bank, as a consultant. UBS was also one of several banks that ended up receiving a cut of the GRIP pie. The collusion of CDR, elected Democrat, and consultants that occurred in New Mexico is similar to other CDR linked scandals. In Philadelphia it was Ron White (now deceased) who received money and super bowl tickets from the company and was hired as a consultant. He was also an associate and fundraiser for Philly Mayor Sharpe. In Pennsylvania as a whole it was Alan Kessler who was the chief lobbyist for CDR and a top fundraiser for Ed Rendell. The most egregious example would be Mayor Larry Langford of Birmingham Alabama, who is accused in a 101 count indictment of using his friend William Blount and lobbyist Albert LaPierre to funnel money, jewelry, cloths, and watches into his hands in exchange for government favors while he was President of the Jefferson County Commission. Jefferson County, which includes Birmingham is on the precipice of the greatest municipal bankruptcy in history. There are also questions of CDR's actions in Atlanta and several of municipalities and CDR is currently being sued by over 20 school districts and cities in addition to the criminal investigations.

With Richardson and his cronies sweating out the Summer over grip gate and the FBI still active in Pennsylvania we may be seeing the muni-bond scandal heat up again. As for Langford his taste for expensive suits and rolex watches has caught up to him.