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| Photo illustration (banbalch.com) |
Alabama Power might seem at a great distance from the events of Jan. 6, which ended with Donald Trump supporters conducting an assault on the U.S. Capitol. But the Birmingham-based company actually helped fund the ugliness of Jan. 6, and CEO Mark Crosswhite has been noticeably quiet as Congressional investigators turn up the heat on prominent figures tied to the insurrection. Could the heat soon be turned in Crosswhite's direction, perhaps leading to an early retirement? Publisher K.B. Forbes provides insight on that question in a post at banbalch.com, under the headline "Crosswhite Stands Nervously Silent as January 6th Inquiry Escalates":
This morning Trump’s once top advisor Steve Bannon surrendered himself to law enforcement over his refusal to testify before the January 6th congressional inquiry. Two weeks ago, The Washington Post published an in-depth series on the insurrection.
The spotlight on January 6th is escalating. And the behind-the-scenes decision makers are being exposed.
In 2016 during a media interview, former Balch partner and now Alabama Power Chairman and CEO Mark A. Crosswhite boasted :
For years I had been deeply involved in helping with the decision-making process, in offering recommendations, courses of action, but I was never involved in the final decision-making and when the chance came to cross over from the legal side to the business side that is why I did it.
Crosswhite likes to be the final decision maker, the boss, the top man, El Gran Jefe.
As "Big Boss," Crosswhite might soon find himself in an uncomfortable position, as Forbes explains:
Now the “most powerful man in Alabama” is facing heat for Alabama Power’s $25,000 blood-money donation to the Rule of Law Defense Fund in 2020 whose robo calls allegedly helped spur the January 6th insurrection (some have called it a “domestic terrorist attack”) that included the desecration of the U.S. Capitol.
The Rule of Law Defense Fund (RLDF) is part of the Republican Attorneys General Association (RAGA), which Marshall heads.
Marshall is not the only Alabama tie to RLDF and RAGA. Jessica Medeiros Garrison, an attorney and longtime associate of Luther Strange (plus Jeff Sessions and Bill Pryor) held leadership positions at both organizations. When a New York Times investigative report caused flames to start lapping at RAGA's door, Garrison bailed out. Along the way, she landed at -- guess where -- Balch & Bingham, the "sister-wife" law firm of Alabama Power and the launching pad for Crosswhite's rise to power.
"El Gran Jefe" now faces a quandary, perhaps of "El Gran proporciones." Writes Forbes;
In February, we pointed out that Crosswhite had remained silent and now, nine months later, he still is quiet as a lethargic mouse.
Crosswhite knew better, but dropped the cheese ball.
As we said in February, Crosswhite should have publicly distanced his company from the insurrection, calling the domestic terrorist attack for what it was: an ugly stain, a crime, absolutely revolting, and truly un-American. Crosswhite should have declared unequivocally that the robocalls and contribution were a grave mistake and should have apologized on behalf of Alabama Power.
Should have. Could Have. Would have.
The great final-decision maker lost his intestinal fortitude and has remain hidden surrounded by his yes-men and yes-women.
Although Crosswhite allegedly feels he will be the next Chairman and CEO of Southern Company when Tom Fanning supposedly retires next year, Fanning’s exit has yet to be confirmed out of Atlanta.
Atlanta is very aware of the Crosswhite Scandal in which alleged indemnity agreements were made through third-party entities to protect agents and operatives engaged in alleged unsavory and criminal conduct.
Meanwhile, down in Alabama, irrefutable and verifiable documentation is allegedly being gathered that could rattle Balch & Bingham boosters, Alabama Power, and may bring an early retirement for El Gran Jefe.
No me digas!
6 comments:
Hah! That photo illustration is hilarious. Love how Crosswhite looks just a little out of place with that strange crowd he helped fund.
Oh God, I love it, too -- so much that I stole it from banbalch.com. K.B. Forbes does a great job with that kind of thing.
To have the mooing Shaman and Crosswhite in the same image is a work of genius.
It seems to me that for Alabama Power, as a public utility, to take sides like this in a presidential election is unseemly. Many of their customers voted for Biden. I assume many of their employees voted for Biden, even though Trump won the state handily. To financially support an insurrection -- and then not denounce what happened in the aftermath -- is both cowardly and disrespectful to those who might not be Trumpers.
If I were the Biden administration, I would go after these SOBs with all guns blazing. Funding that circus on Jan. 6 was incredibly disrespectful to the president who was actually elected.
Is Alabama Power driven more by arrogance or white privilege? Close call.
I wonder if the learned lawyers at Balch & Bingham signed off on the decision to fund these robo calls -- or maybe they even came up with the idea?
If so, it adds to the firm's track record of giving bad advice?
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