Video: Langford talks about Birmingham media
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Former mayor Langford on Birmingham media
Former mayor Langford on Birmingham mediaPublished: October 28, 2009
Updated: October 29, 2009
TUSCALOOSA, Ala.—Former Birmingham mayor Larry Langford had harsh words about the Birmingham media and NBC13HD Wednesday afternoon after he was found guilty on all 60 counts in his federal corruption trial.
Langford faced 60 charges from a federal indictment returned in June 2008 and unsealed 6 months later.
Among the charges were bribery, money laundering, conspiracy, mail and wire fraud and filing a false tax return.
Langford now faces a maximum of 804 years in prison. His office of the Mayor of Birmingham is also vacated.
City Council President Carole Smitherman will over as Acting Mayor until a special election is held in early-mid December.
Prosecutors claimed that Langford accepted $235,000 in cash, clothing and jewelry from investment banker Bill Blount and lobbyist Al LaPierre.
In exchange, prosecutors argued that Langford arranged lucrative bond swap deals for Blount and LaPierre while Langford served as President of the Jefferson County Commission.
Langford pleaded not guilty to the charges and claimed the money and clothing were loans and gifts from friends, with no strings attached.
Blount has pleaded guilty to conspiracy and bribery and LaPierre admitted guilt to conspiracy and filing a false tax return.
Reader Reactions
Speaking of the dome…who did he think is going to play there?? Talk about a waste of money…...blacks should want that money spent on schools or housing so they can get off the street.
Marqx, look around… we (whites) are already the “minority”. If you dislike Alabama so much, then why do you live here? Do us all a favor and Leave!
No one here is calling names but you. Do you think LL is not guilty? What do you think his conviction should have been? Do you have a point other than you clearly hate white people? We all know that it is ok to hate white people and that in no way makes you raciest. Why is it only whites that are raciest?
INTERESTINGLY…Langford talks about how the “GOVERNMENT” spent a lot of time and money to “conspire” and build their case on him.
LANGFORD…Every time you open your mouth you prove how ignorant and stupid you are. Let me remind you of something…and this is ME quoting myself loud and clear for YOU to hear…“YOU ARE (WERE and I love staying “WERE”) THE GOVERNMENT. YOU WERE SCREWING THE CITY, THE TAXPAYERS, THE CITIZENS AND IT WAS ALL FOR YOUR GREED.“ The more true government simply went in and took out the bad government. Say what you want but no GOD will punish those who simply took out the people doing wrong to others. That’s just your delusional wish. Also, your announcement of the dome stadium was a publicity stunt/ploy to gain sympathy/support for what you just faced. That dome stadium won’t happen like you say it will and will be the mainstream joke about you. I can see it now…“Hey! Did you hear Langford is guilty and is going to prison? So what! He got us a dome stadium…..NOT!!!!!“
Now, do you still want to talk about THE GOVERNMENT? I don’t think so because your dog won’t hunt in that arena.
Quite frankly, 804 years in prison would be a light punishment for people like you.
mlewis,
NONE of this has anything to do with race, including the time he is facing. He was convicted on 60 separate counts, and the sentencing adds up to a max of 804 years. It’s about the 60 convictions, not the color of his skin.
I think when this ordeal begin in 1981 Mr. Langford should have covered his tracks more carefully. Not to say he would not have been caught anyway but the Bible says when you know better you do better. He knew in 1981 he should have slowed his roll. I really hope we don’t look at this as a Black/White thing because it’s deeper . It’s a Federal Government thing and all POLITICIANS should take heed to this WARNING you never know who’s next. The only unfair thing is the time he’s facing compared to our other white ploiticians exapmle. I believe all of the Crimnals who sit or have sat on the Jefferson County Commisson should be held accountable for robbing the Citizens of Jefferson County . Just think about how we as the citizens have suffered for there greed and decit over the past years and nothing is being done to ease our pain. We are standing in long lines,friends and loved ones being laid off or fired, the Bessemer jail closed down new jail built can’t be used,no money,no employees to run the jail. Yea, i’m mad because peolpe should stop falling for everything that’s placed before us. If it looks or seems to good to be true it is. And yes i’ll pray for him and his family hope they realize how many family’s have been impacted by there greed and need to look good. Yes, the rest will have to pay as well. I just pray we as the Citizens will have the nerves stand up to these low down dirty crooks who thinks it’s okay to take from hard working people.
It makes me ashamed has a black man that in this instants for Larry Langford to use the race card. When that is not the case this time.. But there have been rumor’s of his financial problem and dealing for months. They were coming not just from the news media, but ordinary people who worked in sales. He is right about one thing. He was doomed before this every went to trial. And when it came out about Blount and LaPierre gifts and cash it only concreted it in stone to be fact. That he was a desperate man for cash. I am not crashing on Mr.Langford because I know personally he has done some fine things for the people and especially the old. But he forgot appearance is everything. Conduits are a must in order for you to keep your hands clean.
I agree with everyone else who posted that this has nothing to do with race. I believe that she made that comment while feeling some pretty intense emotions. While we may disagree with what she said I hope that we could understand how she may feel that way.
I don’t believe a black man, or any man can consistantly get a fair trial in this state. As corupt as our politics are, the Criminal Justice System is just as bad. There is a lot of merit to what this man said about his trial. Could you imagine walking into a court room the read “THE UNITED STATES VS. YOU”? The odds are badly stacked against you the minute you walk in. And those who don’t believe it are the same people who believe you can trust the United States Government and our media. The news most media sources reports is biased and one sided. And you can count that any information coming from the government or law enforcement officials has been highly manipulated to support their own agenda.
History has shown that our government isn’t civil and doesn’t mind stealing from, killing or torturing whole nations and cultures. What makes you think they care about your “civil rights”?
Lankford was found guilty because the EVIDENCE PROVED him guilty beyound a reasonable doubt. There are no racist isses with the trial and his claims of such will be overruled in his Appeal. He’s 100% wrong about Reporter Paepcke, who’s one of a FEW area reporters who reports the FACTS. Lankford is correct in that the some news media outlets are biased. If you don’t belive that, watch the REPUBLICAN’S STATE TV FOX.
I find it funny that Lankford envokes God’s name, his bible study, teaching his bible class in one breath and then calls a man a “snake”, calls others an “A _ _” and then used the curse word “D _ _ _”. Sorry, but I didn’t see any CHRIST-LIKE-ATTRIBUTES in the Lankford verbal attack on Paepcke and others.
True, but simple definition of a leader: Someone who admits their errors and takes any blame they caused themselves.
Does anyone now think LaLa is/was a leader? Not ironic, but sad, that those who espouse their love and undying support of him don’t pause to think that he Stole from YOU! He’s a great part of the reason YOU have less than you could have had monetarily.
Think before you post negatively to this post!
why has this become a hate site? the issue is the conviction of a criminal who tooks some suits and jewelery and cash and sold his integrity to a bunch of folks willing to help bankrupt our county. do i feel sorry for mr. langford? yes. no one should have to be in this position . we should all pray for him and his family thru this. but all that being said, at this point , he has a sentence to serve..we just don’t know the details yet. stop parading your own predjudices and stick to the issue . there is still the appeal process to go through ,also. and as to the folks out there who say these crimes involved only some clothing and jewelry…the sums add up to more than most of our citizens make in 10 years of hard,honest work all the while paying the exhorbitant fees brought on by the sewer bond mess. and just how did that all get started?
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