AL.com
Alabama State Rep. John Rogers, D-Birmingham, has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of obstruction of justice and one count of obstruction of justice by bribery, court records dated Sept. 26, 2023 show.
The indictment says Rogers, 82, attempted to bribe someone to lie to federal investigators about a federal kickback scheme in exchange for receiving public funding for the person’s nonprofit organization.
“I haven’t done anything wrong,” said Rogers, a Democrat who was first elected to the State House in 1982. “I’m so innocent, I ain’t even worried and I look forward to a court date.
“I wouldn’t do anything that crazy,” he told AL.com on Wednesday evening. “I wouldn’t do anything that stupid. This is going to be a royal affair. I’ll enjoy kicking their ass.”
Rogers will be arraigned at the federal courthouse in Birmingham on Oct. 12 at 9:30 a.m.
The charges stem from misuse of money from the Jefferson County Community Service Fund, money that was intended to support the nonprofit Piper Davis youth baseball league and another unnamed organization, according to the indictment.
Rogers is the third person to be indicted in the kickback scheme. In June, former Alabama State Rep. Fred Plump, the founder and executive director of the nonprofit baseball league, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of obstruction of justice. Plump, a Democrat, resigned his seat in the legislature, and a runoff election is scheduled for Oct. 24 for the seat.
Attorney John C. Robbins of Birmingham, who’s representing Rogers, said that Rogers maintains he hasn’t done anything wrong or illegal.
“I just received a copy of the indictment and haven’t yet gone over it in-depth. I contacted Representative Rogers to let him know about the indictment,” Robbins said. “We intend to vigorously defend him on these charges.”
