John Rogers, a Democrat, is the longest-serving member of Alabama’s House of Representatives. He’s held that office for 41 years… but he just saw his tenure come to a disgraceful end on Monday.
According to a plea deal filed Monday, Rogers agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy to obstruct justice and conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud.
As part of the deal, Rogers must resign his long-held position.
Rogers is pleading guilty over a scheme to fraudulently divert money from a state fund intended for community projects.
Varrie Johnson Kindall, Rogers’ former assistant and girlfriend, previously pleaded guilty to related charges. Fellow Rep. Fred Plump Jr., another Democrat, also pleaded guilty and resigned as part of the same investigation.
Federal prosecutors accuse Rogers of directing at least $400,000 from the Jefferson County Community Service Fund to a youth sports organization run by Plump… and prosecutors said Plump then gave Rogers and Kindall approximately $200,000 in kickbacks.
Rogers had previously denied all wrongdoing. According to AL.com, Rogers said in September, “I’m so innocent, I ain’t even worried and I look forward to a court date.”
He quickly changed his tune.
Rogers will resign from office and pay $197,950 in restitution as part of his guilty plea.
But federal prosecutors have declined to seek the maximum penalty: a $500,000 fine and 25 years in federal prison.
Rather, they’re recommending 14 months of home confinement as a sentence for the 83-year-old Rogers.
Rogers has become the third Alabama lawmaker to agree to plead guilty to a criminal charge during this four-year term.
In addition to Plump and Rogers, former state Rep. David Cole, a Republican, pleaded guilty last year. He was facing charges of voter fraud for allegedly renting a closet-size space to fraudulently run for office in a district where he did not live.
Rogers was previously known for his inflammatory comments on abortion.
“Some kids are unwanted. So you kill them now or you kill them later. You bring them in the world unwanted, unloved; you send them to the electric chair. So you kill them now or you kill them later,” Rogers said on the statehouse floor in 2019. “Some parents can’t handle a child with problems. It could be retarded. It might have no arms and no legs.”
Take a look —
Alabama State Rep. John Rogers (D) on abortion:
“Some kids are unwanted, so you kill them now or you kill them later. You bring them in the world unwanted, unloved, you send them to the electric chair. So, you kill them now or you kill them later”
OMG
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) May 1, 2019
The Horn editorial team and the Associated Press contributed to this article.