Newly sworn in Governor Robert Bentley has signed an executive order abolishing former Governor Bob Riley’s task force on illegal gambling.
Mr. Bentley says he has assigned outstanding cases to new Attorney General Luther Strange and he expects Mr. Strange to “enforce the law.”
The move comes as Mr. Bentley is facing criticism over remarks made during the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.
“Anybody here today who has not accepted Jesus Christ as their savior, I’m telling you, you’re not my brother and you’re not my sister, and I want to be your brother,” Bentley said Monday.
Gambling task forces remain a sensitive issue in the state. A number of bingo casinos were raided by state officials in 2010, just weeks before state legislators were indicated for fraud and corruption.
Mr. Bentley said job creation and reviving the state’s economy should be the first priority for state lawmakers in the upcoming legislative session.
