A corruption trial linked to disgraced former state lawmaker Oliver Robinson Monday entered its second week at Birmingham federal court. A Drummond Company executive, David Roberson, and two Balch and Bingham attorneys, Joel Gilbert and Steven McKinney, are accused of bribing the Birmingham Democrat to oppose the expansion of an EPA clean-up site. Drummond CEO Mike Tracy testified that there were concerns the expansion could have cost the company up to $20-million dollars, and result in the closure of the Drummond-owned ABC Coke plant in Tarrant. Tracy said he had no reason to believe that the money paid to the foundation, more than $300,000, was intended as a bribe for Robinson. Robinson pleaded guilty, and is expected to testify for the prosecution.
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