Senator Harri Anne Smith

Rickey Stokes

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Posted by: RStokes
Date: Aug 08 2011 7:06 PM

MONTGOMERY:  Alabama Senator Harri Anne Smith’s life is in a hold pattern. She is waiting on a jury to decide her fate – freedom or prison.

Most everyone who has followed the bingo trials in Montgomery all say Senator Smith is NOT GUILTY and the Washington D.C. lawyers have not proven a case.

The jury has been deliberating since Thursday afternoon.

When Senator Smith left her Slocomb home Sunday was a week ago she left an emotional basket case. Smith said this could be the last time she was at her home. The last time she could see the 16 year old young man the Senator and her husband took to live with them.

Senator Smith and Charlie have a neighbor grandmother that was raising their grandson. The grandmother was unable to take care of the 16 year old. The Smith’s have taken the young man they have known most of his life into their home and raising him as their own.

Smith was emotional as they left the son, the five dogs, her family home. If Smith is convicted she could be taken into custody once the jury verdict is read.

Smith stands by her innocence. She worked for the wiregrass to have jobs, to have the chance to vote. Smith went against the Republican party when she endorsed Democrat Bobby Bright. She went against the Houston County power team. They all abandoned her and sought to destroy Smith.

Now Smith, on an emotional roller coaster, has fought for her life. She has endured two months of accusations in trial, on the heels of a hard fought campaign to serve.

During the trial Smith has been in contact with her Montgomery office still handling needs to the people. Her assistant, Tony, has been busy handling issues on the ground in wiregrass.

This trial has been financially expensive for the Smith’s. A legal battle against the government, who has millions at their disposal, is expensive. Smith has sold assets in order to fund her legal team. She has hocked all she could hock.

She was forced to rent two apartments. One for her and one for her legal team to live in. Her husband, Charlie, works for a living. He has worked to balance his job and being by his wife’s side. Since the case went to the jury Charlie has remained by Harri Anne’s side.

When you think of friends, you must vision Becky Bates and Richard Posey. They moved in with Harri Anne, being at her side since day one.

Bates and Posey have worked to keep Smith’s apartment in living shape, meals on the table, notes during trial. At Harri Anne and Charlie’s side each and every day.

Their motivation – they believe in Harri Anne and Charlie, and they are friends.

Our prayer for Harri Anne, for the 9, a not guilty verdict. The government has not proved their case.

 

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