Published on June 13, 2018 During the past two months, many readers have asked me why I am so passionate about standing up for people who have no real voice in our society. If you watch this short video on my oldest brother’s life, you will understand. Standing up for what is right is a longtime Watkins family tradition.

By Donald V. Watkins ©Copyrighted and Published on June 12, 2018 In return for its favored tax-status, a charitable nonprofit promises the federal government that it will not engage in “political campaign activity” and, if it does, IRS regulations mandate that the charitable nonprofit will lose its tax-exempt status. In general, according to the IRS, "no organization may qualify for section 501(c)(3) status if a substantial part of its activities is attempting to influence legislation (commonly known as lobbying). A 501(c)(3) organization that has filed a 501(h) election may engage in some limited forms of lobbying, but too much lobbying activity risks loss of tax-exempt status." GBHS has filed a 501(h) election for its lobbying activities, according to Chairman Art Edge. Under the Internal Revenue Code, 501(c)(3) organizations are absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office. Public statements of position (verbal or written) made on behalf of the organization in favor of or in opposition to any candidate for public office clearly violate the prohibition against political campaign activity.  Violating this prohibition may result in the denial or revocation of tax-exempt status and the imposition of certain excise taxes. Certain activities or expenditures may not be prohibited depending on the facts and circumstances.  For example, certain voter education activities (including presenting public forums and publishing voter education guides) conducted in a non-partisan manner do not constitute prohibited political campaign activity. In addition, other activities intended to encourage people to participate in the electoral process, such as voter registration and get-out-the-vote drives, would not be prohibited political campaign activity if conducted in a non-partisan manner. However, voter education programs, voter registration activities, and get-out-the-vote drives with evidence of bias that (a) would favor one candidate over another; (b) oppose a candidate in some manner; or (c) have the effect of favoring a candidate or group of candidates, constitutes prohibited participation or intervention. Has GBHS Crossed the Line on 501(c)(3) Political Activity? On June 5, 2018, Alabama held partisan primary elections. Courtney Underwood, GBHS’s Director of Marketing and Outreach, posted this politically-charged message on her Facebook account: “VOTE TODAY! Your vote matters more than you know. And for the record GBHS folks, let us NOT forget that it was a County Commissioner (coughdavidcarringtoncough) that sank our ship for property. This voting cycle is for County Commissioners! These are the elections that truly matter because these are the elections that truly affect our lives the most. I don’t care who you vote for, just vote! Today, I’m voting for Heath Boackle for Sheriff, Jerome Dees for House District 54 and Lou Willie for District Judge Place 9. There’s a few more but those are my 3 faves.“ Ms. Underwood followed Allison Black Cornelius from Blackfish Consulting to GBHS after Ms. Cornelius became the chief executive officer at GBHS. Her Facebook post was a thinly veiled political endorsement of three specific candidates. She also opposed incumbent County Commission candidates who were running for re-election. Here is the background on Underwood’s political activity: In January 2015, GBHS took over Jefferson County's contract for animal control and shelter services in unincorporated areas and municipalities with fewer than 5,000 residents from Birmingham-Jefferson County Animal Control. Along with the contract came use of the county's deteriorating shelter in Woodlawn. In January 2016, this contract was renewed for three years. In 2016, Ms. Cornelius began discussing a proposal to relocate all of GBHS's operations onto a 27-acre parcel of the Trinity Park site in North Titusville. GBHS’s $30 million plan hinged on the City of Birmingham and Jefferson County, which jointly own the property, agreeing to donate the site to GBHS. In February 2018, Jefferson County approved the sale of part of the property to a data processing company, effectively killing GBHS one-campus plan. This is the transaction Courtney Underwood was referencing when she said, “And for the record GBHS folks, let us NOT forget that it was a County Commissioner (coughdavidcarringtoncough) that sank our ship for property.” Carrington, who was a key player in brokering the 2018 property sale deal, did not seek re-election. Candidates Heath Boackle, Jerome Dees, and Lou Willie lost their elections, despite Underwood’s political endorsement for “GBHS folks”. Underwood’s get-out-the-vote message/political endorsement on June 5th was not an isolated incident. During the 2016 Presidential election, Ms. Cornelius reportedly campaigned for Republican nominee Donald Trump by openly telling GBHS employees they should vote for him. She later canvassed these employees, one at a time, to determine which candidate received their vote, according to our confidential sources. Additionally, Cornelius teamed with the Alabama Puppy Mill Project, a GBHS "partner", and its founder, Angie Ingram, to support Senate District 18 Republican candidate Garlan Gudger, Jr., in his race against incumbent Paul Bussman during the June 5th primary. Gudger won the election. During the 2017 legislative session, Bussman voted “no” on “Atti’s Law”, a bill to regulate puppy mills in Alabama that was backed by GBHS and Ingram’s group. The bill died in the legislative session. Ingram and Cornelius celebrated Bussman’s defeat on the Facebook pages of the Alabama Puppy Mill Project and Ms. Cornelius, respectively. “Moonlighting” on GBHS’s Time When Allison Black Cornelius was hired as CEO in January 2015, GBHS’s board of directors expected Cornelius to wind-down her involvement with Blackfish, a private consulting company founded and headed by Ms. Cornelius. She was hired to serve as GBHS’s full-time chief executive officer. On its IRS Form 990 for 2016, GBHS reported that Ms. Cornelius spends 60 hours per week working as CEO at an annualized salary of about $133,933. Even with the demands of her 60-hours per week job at GBHS and the board’s expected wind-down of her Blackfish activities, Ms. Cornelius still found time to “moonlight” for Blackfish. On Tuesday, May 8, 2018, Allison Black Cornelius took a break from her GBHS work to lead a “Standards for Excellence” grad class under the banner of Blackfish Consulting for the Richland County Foundation’s Osborne Meese Academy in Mansfield, Ohio. Cornelius attended the Foundation’s annual meeting the day before and was a featured speaker at the Foundation’s Annual Luncheon. The Foundation’s May 8th “grad class to nonprofit leaders” cost $25 per person to attend and was promoted as follows: “Allison Black Cornelius teaches the Standards of Excellence for the Foundation's Osborne Meese Academy. She is back in town and ready to inspire you again. Allison is the founder of Blackfish Consulting and is a true blackfish, a template of inner strength and perseverance….”. During his June 1, 2018 interview, GBHS Board Chairman Art Edge claimed that Ms. Cornelius’ dissociation from Blackfish was complete. In reality, Ms. Cornelius (a) continues to promote herself as Blackfish’s “President” on the company’s website, (b) maintains a Linkedin profile that lists her as Blackfish's "Principal", and (c) continues to book “for-profit” classes under “Blackfish Consulting”. As such, it is clear that Ms. Cornelius actively conducts Blackfish’s business on GBHS’s time. Art Edge also claimed that all speaker fees earned by Ms. Cornelius since she became CEO in 2015 have been donated to GBHS. However, GBHS’s 2016 and 2017 financial statements do not reflect any such donations in the sections labeled “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” and “Notes to Financial Statement”. In contrast, the direct and in-kind donations of other GBHS “insiders” are reflected in these sections of the financial statements. “Lip-Service” on Ethics Ironically, while Ms. Cornelius was comingling GBHS's “non-profit” business with Blackfish's “for-profit” business at the Richland County Foundation event, the screen behind her displayed a “conflict of interest” presentation as she addressed the grad class in an academic setting. In practice, Ms. Cornelius has demonstrated a cold and callous attitude toward those who have raised questions with her about conflicts of interest and unethical conduct with respect to GBHS “partners”, board members, and her own activities. When she speaks of standards of ethics for GBHS, it is mostly “lip-service”. The case with Heather Halldin explains why. “Yall need to sue the daylights out of this woman,” wrote Ms. Cornelius to Angie Ingram on February 8, 2015. “This woman” was a demeaning reference to Heather Halldin, a Pennsylvania resident and member of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club, USA. Halldin was part of a group of women who “blew the whistle” on Angie Ingram, GBHS board member Lisa Thompson and their Birmingham group of dog “rescuers” in the aftermath of a November 22, 2014 “rescue” operation that was conducted in Wheaton, Missouri. Heather Halldin had emailed GBHS officials one hour earlier to report allegations of financial improprieties in connection with pre-auction fundraising activities conducted by Brittney Wilk and Lisa Thompson. These women were the Alabama coordinators for Cavalier Rescue USA when the Missouri “rescue” operation occurred. Halldin also questioned GBHS “partner” Angie Ingram’s role in the “rescue”, as she was a Cavalier Rescue USA volunteer. The dogs at the auction were purchased in Ingram’s name. Halldin stated that the mission of Wilk, Thompson, and Ingram, as agents of Cavalier Rescue USA, was to “collect and hand over all of the dogs they obtained at the auction – no matter by what means – to Cavalier Rescue USA.” Halldin alleged that, “Brittney Wilk and her friend members of the Cavalier Club of Birmingham have kept those dogs for themselves.” Halldin requested an “accounting” for the “people who poured out their hearts, and wallets, to support [Thompson, Wilk and Ingram]” and an explanation of “what is being done to correct the situation.” She ended her email by asking GBHS these questions: “Are you willing to be associated with these people? Because their behavior tarnished every institution with whom they associate. These people used YOUR truck to take these dogs from the auction to Birmingham – posted pictures of your truck. Won awards for their activities. Is the entire community seriously going to condone, reward, or even ignore this behavior?” Instead of receiving an “accounting” and an explanation of “what is being done to correct the situation,” Halldin and her fellow “whistleblowers” were met with a coordinated campaign of resistance to transparency regarding the Birmingham Cavalier rescue group’s operations, post-auction foster care, Cavalier adoption program, and ownership information on the Cavaliers that were “saved” at the auction. Then Thompson and Ingram initiated bullying legal maneuvers against Halldin and the other “whistleblowers”. This resistance and bullying is described in detail in my May 6, 2018 article titled, “Was GBHS Complicit in Stonewalling Cavalier ‘Whistleblowers’?” On April 8, 2015, Angie Ingram followed through on Allison Black Cornelius’ advice and filed a "defamation" lawsuit on behalf of GBHS board member Lisa Thompson, Christina Carnes, Amanda Johnson, Jasmine Lawson, Kara Ingram, Brittney Wilk, and herself against Karen Pearsall Orange, Cathy Moon, Heather Halldin, Liz Moe, Nancy Ann Friedman, and Lisa Swoboda in the Jefferson County, Alabama Circuit Court. On April 13, 2015, the plaintiffs added Peggy Kenny as a defendant to the "defamation" lawsuit. Later on, they added Shelby County, Alabama resident Beth Reed to the lawsuit. On February 6, 2017, the truth emerged in Lisa Thompson’s “defamation’ lawsuit when the plaintiffs finally admitted in a court filing that: (a) Christina Carnes and Angie Ingram took ownership of two “rescued” Cavalier King Charles Spaniels that were purchased at the auction for $24,200.00 using GoFundMe donor money; (b) Jasmine Lawson took ownership of one Cavalier that was purchased for $4,500.00 using donor money; (c) Mandy Johnson took ownership of a Cavalier named Gideon that was purchased for $4,300.00 using donor money; and (d) Brittney Wilk took ownership of a Cavalier named Happy Go Lucky that was purchased for $3,750.00 using donor money. The plaintiffs also acknowledged that Brittney Wilk and Lisa Thompson made the decision to adopt the two $24,200.00 Cavaliers to Angie Ingram and Christina Carnes. Wilk and Thompson also made the decision to adopt one of the $4,500.00 Cavaliers to Jasmine Lawson. Angie Ingram made the decision to adopt Gideon to Mandy Johnson. Lisa Thompson adopted Happy Go Lucky to Brittney Wilk. Despite the obvious conflicts of interest and serious ethical questions raised in Ms. Halldin’s February 8, 2015 email, Ms. Cornelius gave an affidavit of support to GBHS board member Lisa Thompson and the other plaintiffs in the “defamation” case. Chairman Art Edge did not know whether GBHS’s legal counsel or Angie Ingram’s legal team prepared Cornelius’ July 10, 2015 affidavit. Instead of providing the requested “accounting” and addressing the conflicts of interest and ethical questions raised by Heather Halldin, Allison Black Cornelius encouraged Angie Ingram “to sue the daylights out of this woman.” This is exactly what GBHS board member Lisa Thompson and the other plaintiffs did. Cornelius then used her position as GBHS’s CEO to support Lisa Thompson’s legal claim for monetary damages by giving Thompson a very favorable affidavit. We found no disclosure of this Cornelius/Thompson litigation support transaction in GBHS’s financial statements or board minutes. By any definition, this arrangement was an “insider” transaction. Lisa Thompson’s “defamation” lawsuit is still pending in court. However, we have learned that an insurer for one “whistleblower”/defendant paid settlement money to the plaintiffs to get its policyholder released from the lawsuit. We do not know how much, if any, of this money has made its way to Lisa Thompson -- thanks to Ms. Cornelius' affidavit. Ms. Cornelius declined an opportunity to participate in an interview for this article. Stay tuned as we reveal more shocking developments in this evolving GBHS scandal. PHOTO: GBHS CEO Allison Black Cornelius teaches the "Standards for Excellence" for the Richland County Foundation's Osborne Meese Academy on May 8, 2018 in Mansfield, Ohio.

By Donald V. Watkins ©Copyrighted and Published on June 9, 2018 Allison Black Cornelius placed the final touches on her self-portrait late Friday afternoon. For weeks, I had been trying to secure an interview with the Greater Birmingham Humane Society’s controversial chief executive officer. I made my first request for an interview on May 22, 2018. Two days later, Ms. Cornelius responded, via email, that she would be unavailable for an interview due to a scheduling conflict. She stated that GBHS Chairman Art Edge would give me a tour of the GBHS facility on Snow Drive in Birmingham, Alabama and would answer any questions I had about the organization. I accepted this offer. My tour and first interview with Art Edge occurred on June 1, 2018. A follow-up interview with Edge occurred the next day, via telephone. Shortly after the interview concluded, I received an email from Ms. Cornelius stating: “I hope you enjoyed your tour of GBHS. I appreciate the time you took to tour GBHS and to talk with Art. You should also try to arrange a tour of GBHS hospital and teaching clinic on Princeton Way in Hoover that is run by Jerry Latham, DVM. The work Dr. Latham and the Auburn and Tuskegee vet students do as part of our team is quite remarkable. If I can be of assistance to you in the future don’t hesitate to call or email.” On June 3, 2018, I published the first of five planned articles in this series of investigative reports. Titled, “GBHS: A Killing Zone For Animals In Need", the article documented GBHS’s “Unnecessary Euthanasia” (their words, not mine) of healthy dogs, cats and other animals, as reported in GBHS’s monthly Animal Census Reports. The article also spotlighted Ms. Cornelius’ pitch for donor money to care for a room full of adorable kittens and an injured dog named “Pocahontas” that were featured in two passionate videos. GBHS acknowledges that the kittens were killed immediately after the videos were filmed. The organization also admits that Pocahontas died shortly after the filming, but disputes that the dog was euthanized. Several individuals who were GBHS employees at the time have contradicted GBHS’s publicly articulated account of Pocahontas’ death. The article described the “unacceptable” physical condition of GBHS’s Woodlawn facility. In October 2015, Ms. Cornelius described the Woodlawn facility this way: “We've done the best we could. We've painted, cleaned, put air conditioning in over the summer... but it's just like putting lipstick on a pig .…”. Finally, the article exposed Ms. Cornelius’ efforts to silence departing GBHS employees through the use of non-disclosure agreements. GBHS was never able to articulate any particular operational matter it wanted the affected employees to keep quiet about. After the article was published, I renewed my efforts to interview Ms. Cornelius and avail myself of the “assistance” she offered me in her June 1st email. On Friday, Courtney Underwood, GBHS’s Director of Marketing and Outreach, called to inform me that Ms. Cornelius would not be interviewing with me because she was too busy focusing on the mission of the organization. With that, Ms. Cornelius' self-portrait was complete. For the purposes of the articles in this series of investigative reports, Ms. Cornelius has defined herself by her words and deeds. Who’s Really In Charge at GBHS? GBHS is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with a mission “to promote respect for life through education and prevention of cruelty to animals and people.” As discussed below, the organization is failing in its mission to prevent cruelty to animals and people. While GBHS has a 35-person board of directors that is charged with overseeing its corporate activities, the person who really runs GBHS is Allison Black Cornelius. Many “insiders” view Ms. Cornelius as an administrative tyrant who rules the organization with a dictatorial grip. According to Board Chairman Art Edge, Ms. Cornelius enjoys the full confidence of GBHS’s board of directors. For the most part, the board members attend meetings every other month, assist with fundraising campaigns, and engage in branding GBHS’s public image through participation in community events. New members are selected by the existing board of directors and are appointed to serve two consecutive three-year terms. Except for hiring the CEO, GBHS board members have no involvement in personnel matters. Such matters fall within the exclusive province of the CEO and her human resources coordinator. When Ms. Cornelius was hired as CEO in January 2015, the board expected her to wind-down Blackfish, a private consulting company founded and headed by Ms. Cornelius. She was hired to serve as GBHS’s full-time chief executive officer. On its IRS Form 990 for 2016, GBHS reported that Ms. Cornelius spends 60 hours per week working as CEO at an annualized salary of about $133,933. During his June 1st interview, Board Chairman Art Edge stated that Ms. Cornelius’ dissociation from Blackfish is complete. Yet, Ms. Cornelius continues to promote herself as Blackfish’s “President” on the company’s website. Ms. Cornelius' Linkedin profile lists her as Blackfish's "Principal". There is no discernible evidence that Blackfish has engaged in a wind-down of its business activities. Ironically, Ms. Cornelius and Blackfish were consultants to GBHS during Karen Peterlin’s tenure as executive director. On July 25, 2014, Ms. Peterlin resigned her job after Blackfish identified a conflict of interest arising from a contract Peterlin reportedly awarded to her partner to provide dog-training services to GBHS. Citing “personal reasons”, Ms. Peterlin’s resignation was effective immediately. Ms. Cornelius was then tapped to serve as GBHS’s interim executive director. She became the permanent CEO on January 27, 2015. According to confidential sources with personal knowledge of this leadership transition, Ms. Cornelius plotted Ms. Peterlin’s ouster in order to seize the top executive job for herself. As stated earlier, Ms. Cornelius has not made herself available to address this charge. The Master of “Gaslighting” Former GBHS employees have publicly described their interaction with Allison Black Cornelius in candid terms. According to these employees, Ms. Cornelius is the master of “gaslighting”, a tactic in which a person or entity, in order to gain more power, makes the victim question his/her reality. According to Dr. Stephanie A. Sarkis, Ph.D., N.C.C., D.C.M.H.S., L.M.H.C., gaslighting is a common technique of abusers, dictators, narcissists, and cult leaders. Perpetrators tend to exhibit the following warning signs: (a) they tell blatant lies; (b) they deny they ever said something, even though you have proof; (c) they use what is near and dear to you as ammunition; (d) they wear you down over time; (e) their actions do not match their words; (f) they throw in positive reinforcement to confuse you; (g) they know confusion weakens people; (h) they project matters in a way that distracts others from the gaslighter's own behavior; (i) they try to align people against you; (j) they tell you or others that you are crazy; and (k) they tell you everyone else is a liar. Phil Doster believes he was the victim of Ms. Cornelius’ gaslighting tendencies. Four years ago, Doster served as a Cruelty Prevention Officer at GBHS. His role was to build relationships in the community, across all racial, socioeconomic, and cultural lines, in an attempt to help people and their pets coexist happily, humanely, and with as little stress as possible. In November 2017, Doster made the following public statements regarding GBHS: “Many within the organization took issue with Ms. Cornelius’ leadership style. To the public, it appeared as if she was playing herself and the shelter out as a victim and an underdog. Behind closed doors however, she came across as loud, foul-mouthed, and direct. It was more than that though. From my perspective, Ms. Cornelius has a way of beating down those that work for her. Far too often, I saw the light extinguished in passionate animal advocates and humane shelter heroes. I, myself, started questioning why I was even involved in humane sheltering. I often wonder how many compassionate, brilliant people left the world of animal welfare as a result of Ms. Cornelius and what I now feel were her gaslighting tendencies. It’s often not until you escape a situation that you recognize how you were manipulated….”. On June 4, 2018, Doster posted this poignant message on his Facebook page: “As someone who has fought for shelters and tried to educate the public on the realities of pet overpopulation, let me give my thoughts. When GBHS proposed taking over Animal Control, it did so by having its 'CEO' and Executive Board cry for transparency. As I suggested to them at the time, for the public to understand the dire problems of pet overpopulation, we needed to provide an accurate portrayal of the sheer volume of intake and numbers euthanized. GBHS used this strategy to attain the animal control contract, but have now become less transparent than ever before. While staff may still work hard to care for the animals, the misdirection, exaggeration, and possibly deliberate lies that come from the mouth and keyboard of their 'CEO' and Board continue to damage animal welfare in central Alabama, and will do so for many years to come. That’s to say nothing of the abuse that this 'CEO' and her executive staff have perpetrated on human beings that worked tirelessly to help animals in their care. Personal attacks. Spreading false information about good people. Gaslighting them. Using their expertise and casting them aside. She is a narcissist abuser of people, and she shows her disrespect to you, the public, every time she provides inaccurate information ….”. GBHS intake specialist Christy Patterson had this to say about gaslighting in a May 7, 2018 email to me: “I have cried while reading your blogs because someone has finally recognized their behaviors as they should be seen -- disgusting. I worked for GBHS from August of 2014 until July of 2017. I was let go by Allison and offered a non-disclosure settlement but opted not to sign it. She told me ‘your life won’t be easy if you don’t.’ …. Stella Burton [and I] were let go on the same day ….. We still don’t know the official reasons for our dismissals but we were very outspoken about events happening within the walls of GBHS. Mainly during the Spring and Summer of 2017, things were exceptionally questionable. Creating videos with animals as PSAs and euthanizing them immediately after will haunt me for a long time. The level of gaslighting and verbal abuse the staff has to endure breaks my heart. They stay [at GBHS] because: (a) gaslighting is a paralyzing tactic, and (b) the staff wants so desperately to help animals that they tolerate behavior that they would not accept at any other job. At least, those were my reasons. I have many former employees, some fired and some who chose to leave, who have formed a comfort group, I guess you would call it. Many have received professional counseling stemming from working under [Cornelius'] tyranny ….. I was told by Allison that, by not signing my NDA, she would make sure I didn’t receive unemployment. She was successful ….. But, as ABC always told her staff, ‘You are either with me or against me!’ That keeps people quiet.” On June 4, 2018, Ms. Patterson posted this comment on my June 3rd article: “I would like to add that vets and LVTs did not determine which animals were euthanized. The clinic staff made those determinations and so did Admin. I could list dozens of people who instructed others to euthanize or took matters into their own hands because they were CETs. Some days the vet tech wasn’t even at Snow Drive and the vets didn’t make rounds until @ 4 PM. They euthanized animals all day. Often times, minutes after they were surrendered. It’s a bold face LIE to feed the public this idea that only vets and LVTs made those judgment calls. I even told them which ones to pull and they did. It was always excruciating for most of us to do yet much easier for others. Dogs were put down for being brown, for being black, for having docked tails, and those were NOT vets making these decisions.” In the June 3rd article, we reported on a woman named “Ruth”. Her real name is known to me, but will not be disclosed for privacy reasons. Ruth is the licensed veterinary technician who was ordered to kill the room full of kittens as soon as Ms. Cornelius completed filming of her donor solicitation video featuring these kittens. Like the former GBHS employees mentioned in this article, Ruth has suffered emotionally and otherwise. Ruth was fired at the end of July 2017 for associating with foster care providers who threw a “farewell” party for Stella Burton and Christy Patterson.  Ms. Cornelius reportedly ordered Ruth’s boss to fire her. Stay tuned as we take a journey past GBHS’s “Killing Zone for Animals in Need” and its “Gaslighting” of staffers. Our next article will explore a darker, more sinister side of GBHS. PHOTO: GBHS CEO Allison Black Cornelius with Board Chairman Art Edge.

By Donald V. Watkins ©Copyrighted and Published on June 4, 2018 I have learned more about the plight of women in our society during the past twelve months than I ever knew prior to my reporting on the Megan Rondini and Brittany Luckenbaugh rape cases in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. I knew that male privilege existed in our society and that males are rarely held accountable for their sexual abuse of women. I just did not realize the magnitude of male privilege until I investigated the Rondini and Luckenbaugh rape cases. I have never understood why men who professed to love their mothers, wives, sisters, daughters, and granddaughters tolerate the widespread sexual abuse of women. Personally, I do not tolerate or normalize this sexual misconduct for any reason. The Megan Rondini and Brittany Luckenbaugh rape cases also provided me with a much-needed personal education on how many men view rapes and sexual assaults as "no big deal". Some men who portray themselves as dedicated law enforcement officials also hold this pathetic attitude. Megan Rondini, a University of Alabama honors student, committed suicide on February 26, 2016. Terry Jackson “Sweet T” Bunn, Jr., the designated “suspect” in Megan’s July 2, 2015 rape case, escaped criminal justice because his family had the right connections to The University of Alabama, to Tuscaloosa County Sheriff Ron Abernathy, and to former Tuscaloosa County District Attorney Lyn Head. These relationships, which were nurtured and maintained with Bunn family donor money, paved the way for the Sweet T to gain his freedom from a rape prosecution, once again. Brittany Luckenbaugh is a 22-year-old University of Alabama student was gang-raped in Tuscaloosa on the night of her birthday (March 28, 2018). Tuscaloosa County District Attorney Hays Webb refused to prosecute the three men who Brittany accused of raping her. On May 11, 2018, Brittany shared her story with the world in the hope that it might save other women who have been raped and sexually assaulted. By doing so, she bravely showed other rape victims the pathway forward. Tomorrow, Alabama voters will have an opportunity to make important changes in Alabama’s criminal justice system. We have an opportunity to help rape and sexual assault victims achieve the criminal justice they deserve. Alabamians who respect women and the sanctity of their bodies will have a chance to retire incumbent Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall. He is running in the Republican Primary for a full-term in office. Former Alabama governor/convicted criminal Robert Bentley handpicked Steve Marshall for the AG’s job in April 2017. Later that year, Marshall rewarded Bentley by allowing him to escape a criminal prosecution on four felony ethics charges. Marshall authorized and agreed to Bentley’s guilty plea to “no-jail-time” misdemeanors. This was the “sweetheart” plea deal of the year. Steve Marshall has shown zero interest in protecting the rights of women who have been sexually abused and raped. He is the recognized champion of male privilege in Alabama. Attorney Alice Martin is challenging Steve Marshall in the Republican Primary. Alice Martin is not afraid to fight for rape and sexual assault victims. She has also been relentless in her fight against public corruption. I am encouraging all Alabama voters who want to see well-connected rapists and powerful crooks prosecuted to join me in voting for Alice Martin in tomorrow’s Republican Primary. Ms. Martin has demonstrated by her impressive body of work as a federal and state prosecutor that she is a strong and effective advocate for the fair administration of justice and integrity in government. She is also a remarkable woman, proud mother of three daughters, loving wife, and attorney. None of us will ever know all of the personal sacrifices Ms. Martin has made in order to champion the public’s right to honest government services and fair justice in Alabama. Whatever those sacrifices were, Ms. Martin willingly made them for the good of all Alabamians. She has never sought praise or credit for her work in fighting public corruption in Alabama. Her focus has been on delivering the results the public deserves. Ms. Martin and I met on the battlefield of law only once -- in 2003 during the high profile, landmark case of USA v. Richard Scrushy. At the time, Scrushy was the first CEO of a New Stock Exchange and Fortune 500 company who was charged with Sarbanes-Oxley accounting fraud violations. The United States government brought an 85-count criminal indictment against Scrushy in a $2.7 billion accounting fraud case. By the time Scrushy’s case was tried, Ms. Martin had successfully obtained the first criminal conviction in the nation under Sarbanes-Oxley and seventeen convictions of HealthSouth corporate officers for various acts of fraud and other criminal violations. Ms. Martin and I fought each other in Scrushy’s case for two long years. Unlike most of today’s weak and timid prosecutors, Ms. Martin actually led her troops onto battle and bled with them on the battlefield. She actively participated in the pre-trial hearings and examined witnesses during the five-month trial. She directed the government’s litigation strategies and in-court battles, from start to finish. She was a fierce, skilled, smart, and well-trained adversary. I am not (and never have been) a “guilty plea” lawyer. Whenever I enter the courtroom, I am there to fight until victory is secured. Losing is not an acceptable option. This qualifies me to judge my adversaries on the basis of their fighting skills, intellectual acumen, and courage on the battlefield. In this regard, Ms. Martin was one of the best adversaries I have ever fought during my forty-five year legal career. My legal team won Scrushy’s criminal case in 2005 only because the totality of evidence supported his acquittal on all counts. Even though Ms. Martin and her team of prosecutors fought gallantly in this case, the trial jurors were sworn to base their verdicts on the evidence of Scrushy’s innocence and not Ms. Martin’s gallantry. During her eight years of service as a federal prosecutor, from 2001 to 2009, Ms. Martin was recognized nationally for a top ranked Healthcare Fraud Task Force which returned over $750 million in qui tam settlements/recoveries to the U. S. Treasury, as well as the North Alabama Public Corruption Task Force which obtained over 125 convictions of elected/appointed officials and contractors including Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford, five of six Jefferson County commissioners (i.e., Chris McNair, Gary L. White, John Katopodis, Jeff Germany, and Mary M. Buckelew), the Chancellor of Alabama Post-Secondary (Roy Johnson) and several state legislators. She also oversaw the successful prosecution of Eric Robert Rudolph, who was the FBI's Most Wanted domestic terrorist for his bombing of a Birmingham abortion clinic. As Chief Deputy Attorney General, Ms. Martin and Special Prosecutions Division Chief Matt Hart successfully brought former House Speaker Mike Hubbard to justice on felony ethics charges despite stiff opposition from Governor Robert Bentley and a cabal of human-shield legislators protecting Hubbard. Like society in general, law is a male-dominated profession. Yet, Alice Martin found a way to achieve phenomenal success as a federal and state prosecutor in a legal arena that often crushes most female attorneys. In the process, she became the people’s warrior. I think Alice Martin is one of the best prosecutors in Alabama history. When objective observers look at Ms. Martin’s impressive track record of convictions in over 125 public corruption cases, they will conclude, as I did, that she approached these prosecutions on a non-partisan, gender-neutral, and race-neural basis. Her loyalty was to the rule of law, without fear or favor. No prosecutor in Alabama today has Ms. Martin’s portfolio of earned credentials. No prosecutor on the scene today has Ms. Martin’s tenacity, perseverance, focus, intellectual acumen, and ability to bounce back from adversity. For all of these reasons, Alice Martin has earned my respect and my vote. We can change things for the better for rape and sexual assault victims by voting for Alice Martin for Attorney General. PHOTO: Alice Martin, Republican candidate for Alabama Attorney General.

By Donald V. Watkins ©Copyrighted and Published on June 3, 2018 Founded in 1883 by Dr. John Herbert Phillips, the Greater Birmingham Humane Society’s mission was then and always has been “to promote respect for life through education and prevention of cruelty to animals and people.” For more than 135 years, countless community leaders, GBHS volunteers, financial supporters, and staffers have dedicated their time, money, and lives to preventing cruelty to animals and people. In January 2015, GBHS was awarded the Animal Control and Impoundment contract for Jefferson County, Alabama. The impoundment services are provided for the City of Birmingham as well as all of Jefferson County. In the first year of this contract, the GBHS took in more than 18,000 homeless, neglected and abused animals. In 2016, GBHS took in 21,193 animals in need. In December 2014, GBHS started the Alabama Shelter Veterinarians program. Under this program, a veterinarian, working under a contract, (a) sprays and neuters all of the adoptable animals and (b) provides medical care to the animals located at GBHS’s Animal Care and Control facility, as well as the adoption center. The GBHS's website claims that every animal brought to its Animal Care and Control facility receives full vaccinations, flea and tick treatment, and a veterinary assessment at intake. After intake, the animals are subject to a state-mandated 7-day stray hold, and after that period, animals are transferred to the GBHS adoption facility for a chance to find their forever home. Public contributions in the form of donations, adoption fees, and membership dues, as well as revenues billed under the contracts with government agencies, support these animal care services. GBHS garnered $5,422,357 in total support and revenue, according to the organization’s consolidated financial statement for the fiscal year ending on September 30, 2017. Of this amount, $662,712 was generated from service fees, $1,032,829 was derived from animal control contracts with various local government agencies, and $1,693,960 was brought in from contributions and grants. GBHS’s net assets at the beginning of FYE 2017 totaled $12,183,497. At the end of FYE 2017, GBHS had net assets of $13,534,489, including cash on hand of $681,130. The Woodlawn Facility: “Putting lipstick on a pig” GBHS’s primary Animal Care and Control facility is located at 6227 5th Ave. N. in Birmingham. It is known as the “Woodlawn facility”. By all accounts, the Woodlawn facility was in a run-down and dilapidated condition when GBHS sought and received the Animal Care and Control contract in 2015. Jefferson County owns the building and the City of Birmingham owns the land on which it sits. The Woodlawn facility is the preferred intake facility for stray dogs, cats, and other animals. Evidence animals on a “captive hold” during law enforcement investigations have been known to spend up to two years at the Woodlawn facility. Board Chairman Art Edge readily acknowledges that much needs to be done to improve what was once a dark, dingy, smelly, living conditions for animals held at the Woodlawn facility. According to Edge, budget constraints make improving the plight of the animals impounded at this facility a challenging task. In an October 30, 2015 local newspaper article, GBHS CEO Allison Black Cornelius described the Woodlawn facility this way: "We've done the best we could. We've painted, cleaned, put air conditioning in over the summer... but it's just like putting lipstick on a pig….We have to lock up our food at night and we have to go to great lengths to keep the rats away," she said. "We have got to get out of here... This is unacceptable." Yet, the “unacceptable” conditions at this facility persist today. What is worse, the Woodlawn facility is the GBHS’s primary location for euthanasia operations. The Killing Zone A review of GBHS’s monthly Animal Census Reports from May 2017 through April 2018 reveals that GBHS subjects dogs, cats, and other animals to euthanasia on a sustained basis and massive scale. GBHS conducts what it calls “Unnecessary Euthanasia” and “Necessary Euthanasia”. In May 2017, GBHS took in 1,548 dogs, cats, and other animals. Excluding owner-requested euthanasia, GBHS killed 677 of these animals that month, including 26 healthy animals that were killed solely because of “overcrowding”, 32 that were classified as “Treatable-Rehabilitatable”, and 9 that were classified as “Treatable-Manageable”. Fifty-one percent of the animals that were surrendered to GBHS’s care and custody were killed in May 2017. The “Live Release” rate was 49%. From May 2017 through April 2018, GBHS killed 289 healthy animals solely because of “overcrowding”. These killings were administered at a time when GBHS had a long list of fully vetted, qualified, and publicly acknowledged “Shelter/Rescue Partners” that were capable and willing to house and care for these animals. When the number of animals killed in the “Treatable-Rehabilitatable” category (i.e., medically contagious, physical condition, unweaned, etc.) is added to this twelve-month total, the overall number of kills in two of the three “Unnecessary Euthanasia” categories skyrockets to a staggering 1,093 dogs, cats, and other animals. “Treatable-Manageable” is GBHS’s third category of “Unnecessary Euthanasia”. The total dogs, cats, and other animals killed in this category for the same twelve-month period is 108. GBHS admits to killing 6,621 dogs, cats, and other animals in the “Unhealthy-Untreatable” category during this twelve-month reporting period. The Alabama Animal Census Reporting Act requires GBHS to publish monthly Census Reports on the euthanasia of dogs, cats, and other animals. GBHS must maintain annual Census Reports for a period of three years. While the reports must be certified as true and correct, a violation of the Act does not create a civil statutory cause of action or criminal liability. 53 Kittens Killed in One Day On or about July 27, 2017, Allison Black Cornelius featured adorable kittens as enticing “props” in a widely viewed funding solicitation video. Once the filming ended, the kittens featured in this video were put to death. According to the No Kill Movement (“NKM”), which is an informal coalition of individual No Kill advocates for the reform of animal shelters, Cornelius ordered the killing of 53 kittens on a single day -- July 27 of 2017. Cornelius denies giving such an order. In an investigative article published on October 16, 2017, NKM showed Cornelius opening a funding solicitation video by complaining that they had broken the record for the number of animals admitted in a single day. She says:"It's sad to tell you today that we broke the record again. Today we took in 120 animals." Cornelius then complains that owners surrendered many of these animals. Cornelius emphasizes that she is "a woman of faith" before citing some biblical scripture and suggesting that the people surrendering pets to GBHS’s shelter, and other dramas facing the shelter, are like "the Devil who comes roaring in like a lion.” Cornelius complains that GBHS’s air conditioning "went out," that its exhaust fans "went out," and that the hot water heater that keeps its towels sanitized "went out." Cornelius said she had checks for $30,000 she had to write that week, before going on to plea for more money. She added, "I hate to keep comin' to y'all and begging you, but I am begging you." After describing the crisis with the exhaust fans, the AC, the hot water heater, and her plea for more money, Cornelius holds up a sign with the number 120 on it, representing the 120 animals admitted that day. She says "This is not gonna work." In a touching moment, the camera cuts to a group of kittens that was part of the day's intake, and Cornelius says: "We can't have 20 kittens coming in on one owner surrender because you don't want your animals any more. I want to make this judgment-free, but at some point we've got to share in the responsibility. These animals don't have a voice. So, when it is judgment free for you, it's judgment for them. So until they can talk we're their advocates." According to the NKM article, the on-staff licensed veterinary technician who asked to be identified as "Ruth" reported that in order to film the video of the kittens, they closed the doors to the clinic and let about 20 kittens roam around while the filming was occurring. When they finished filming the video, Ruth claims that Cornelius instructed her to kill all of the kittens in the room. "All of them were healthy or treatable," Ruth said. "And, there were foster homes available for them." GBHS Chairman Art Edge admitted yesterday that these kittens were killed, but denies that the kill order came from Cornelius. According to Edge, the decision to kill these kittens was made solely by the veterinarian or licensed veterinary technician on duty that day. Stella Burton, who was the foster coordinator for GBHS when this incident took place, and who was reportedly present during the exchange between Cornelius and Ruth, corroborated Ruth's version of the events. "She [Cornelius] had frozen the foster program at the time. So, even though we had fosters available, she wouldn't let them use them." This video has been viewed on the GBHS Facebook page more than 94,000 times. Nowhere in the video, or on GBHS’s Facebook page, or on its website did GBHS disclose that the kittens shown in the video were killed immediately after the filming. Ruth said she stayed there the rest of her shift killing these defenseless kittens. This was not a unique event. We have confirmed that on another day prior to the filming of this video, a total of 53 kittens were killed. The Sad Plight of “Pocahontas” On June 20, 2017, Allison Black Cornelius filmed a fundraising video featuring a dog named “Pocahontas” as a pitch for donations for veterinary care. The video was posted on GBHS’s Facebook page and has been viewed more than 16,000 times. "Pocahontas" had a terrible and heart-wrenching story, which Cornelius tells in the video. The dog had fallen off a cliff near a river and was badly injured. A family rescued her and took her to GBHS. In the video, Cornelius is standing in front of two young "veterinary students." They appear to be examining Pocahontas. In the video, Cornelius says, "Just remember, these kinds of things cost a lot of money, and so if it is in your heart, if you'd make a donation, you can go to our web site...". The clear message in this donor solicitation video is that Pocahontas would get the best veterinary care possible and it would be expensive. Quoting GBHS intake specialist Christy Patterson, NKM reports that this did not occur in Pocahontas’ case. Patterson said, "I went back later.... and this was before I [left GBHS in July 2017].... I wanted to know how Pocahontas was doing, because I never heard another word about this dog." Patterson continued, "And, of, all of the medical notes [in the computer system] .... the only medical notes on that dog were from the initial intake. They didn't send her to our vet for observation. They sent her to our shelter, which is in Woodlawn. It is a dark, dank, smelly place. It's just a pound, basically. So, she wasn't at our clinic, so they could make sure to observe or make sure the vets saw her every day. She was just like any other dog and when her stray hold was up, she was put down." Yesterday, GBHS acknowledged that Pocahontas died in its care, but denied that she was euthanized. In a publicly released video last year, Cornelius said GBHS desperately tried to save Pocahontas, but the dog died in its veterinary clinical care due to complications resulting from her injuries. Silencing Employees Christy Patterson claims that Allison Black Cornelius tried to silence Stella Burton and Patterson by asking them to sign non-disclosure agreements prior to their departure from GBHS after the deaths of the kittens and Pocahontas. Both women refused to sign the agreement and were reportedly told by Cornelius that, “your life won’t be easy if you don’t [sign the agreement].” Yesterday, GBHS acknowledged that some employees had been asked to sign non-disclosure agreements, but it could not provide the names of any specific employees or a general description of the operational activities that GBHS needed to shield from public disclosure. Burton and Patterson had been very outspoken about questionable animal care activities that have occurred within the walls of GBHS. Both women were dismissed from GBHS on the same day in July 2017. Stay tuned for more developments in this story. PHOTO: The beautiful reception area in GBHS's Snow Drive facility.

By Donald V. Watkins ©Copyrighted and Published (via Facebook) on November 26, 2017; Republished on May 23, 2018 In June 2015, I traveled from Atlanta to the family home of my girlfriend Angela Leslie on Dawes Road in Mobile County, Alabama. It was my first trip to the place where she was raised. Angela is a brilliant and beautiful woman whose intellectual acumen is exceeded only by her amicable personality. While we had talked extensively about her childhood and family, I did not fully understand how special her parents were until I arrived at my destination on Dawes Road. Angela was there to greet me at the family home where her parents, Mary and Juderson Leslie, raised their eleven children. The elegant home sits off of Dawes Road on a scenic, multi-acre site that is adjacent to their cousin’s 10-acre horse farm. Juderson, a local housing contractor, built this immaculate, five-bedroom home for his family with his own hands in 1964. The home is just as beautiful and structurally sound today as it was when Juderson, a military veteran, built it in the small town of Dawes, Alabama five decades ago. Mary, a homemaker, and Juderson groomed all eleven of their children in this home to become successful, responsible, and caring members of society. Even though Mary and Juderson never progressed beyond the tenth grade in their formal education, they pushed educational excellence within their family. They also stressed the importance of God in their daily lives. The Leslie’s oldest child, Juderson Leslie, Jr., joined the military after high school graduation and served with distinction in the Air Force for 26 years. Beverly, the Leslie’s second child, worked in my father’s office when he was president of Alabama State University and she was an ASU student. Beverly and her husband (Bill Truss) enjoyed long and highly successful careers in corporate America. Merion, the Leslie’s third child, graduated from the University of South Alabama (“USA”) and worked for the State of Alabama for many years. Today, Merion and her husband (Dr. M. Allam Baaheth) operate an innovative environmental research and development laboratory in Mobile. Delbra is the fourth child of Mary and Juderson. She is a prominent Dallas, Texas attorney and former administrative law judge. Doris, the couple’s fifth child, received her Bachelors and Masters degrees from USA. She is a distinguished educator at a magnet school in the Mobile County School System. Her husband (Jonathan Yates) is a prominent minister in Mobile. Kelly is the Leslie’s sixth child. After attending Bishop State Junior College, Kelly became a quality control manager for a large manufacturing company on the West coast. Her husband (Jeff McCondichie) works for the City of Mobile and is also a minister. Annease is the seventh child. She obtained her undergraduate degree from California State University in San Bernardino and a Masters from USA. Today, Annease and her husband (David Petway) run several successful businesses in Mobile. Angela is the couple’s eighth child. She graduated from Talladega College with a degree in Business Administration and Eastern Michigan University with a Master degree in Logistics and Leadership. She works for the U.S. Department of Defense as a logistics manager for a major military command, at home and abroad. Cassius, the Leslie’s ninth child, graduated from Bishop State Junior College. He is a residential contractor in Mobile County. Like his father, Cassius built his family’s spacious home not too far from the Leslie family home on Dawes Road. His wife (Diedrel) is a teacher in the Mobile County School System. Machelle is the Leslie’s tenth child. She received her undergraduate degree from Stillman College and her Masters degree from The University of Alabama. Machelle has held a number of management jobs in government and private industry. The Leslie’s youngest child is Tyra. Like Angela, Tyra received her undergraduate degree from Talladega College. Today, Tyra works as an eligibility specialist for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. The college-age children of the eleven Leslie siblings have also achieved highly successful careers. They are engineers, lawyers, corporate executives, educators, entrepreneurs, government employees, insurance and finance executives, and post-doctoral interns. Mary and Juderson Leslie produced and raised eleven children who have favorably impacted the quality of life for thousands of Americans. They did it quietly, with dignity and class, and with a deep and abiding faith in God. Mary Leslie, the matriarch of the Leslie family, died of cancer in 2003. She lived long enough to see each one of her children achieve remarkable personal and professional success in life. Juderson, whose skilled hands, strong work ethic, keen mind, entrepreneurial spirit, and devotion to his family provided the household income necessary to feed, clothed, house, and educate his eleven children, is 91-years-old today. In 2008, Juderson married his second wife Mattie. He still rides his tractors, plants and harvests the fruits and vegetables in his gardens, and works in the shop located on the home property. What I found at the Leslie home on Dawes Road was a remarkable incubator for the development of class and character for a little-known but highly successful and truly inspirational African American family. Everything Mary and Juderson Leslie accomplished with their family was achieved against the backdrop of Alabama’s difficult racial environment of the 1960s, 70s, and early 80s. Yet, they, along with their eleven children, overcame it all. PHOTO: The Leslie family portrait, circa 1988. Mary Leslie (standing third from the left) and Juderson Leslie (standing third from the right) raised eleven highly successful children. PHOTO: Angela Leslie (in the photo below with Donald V. Watkins) is the eight child of Mary and Juderson Leslie. She is super-smart and plays a vital role in America's national security.

By Donald V. Watkins ©Copyrighted and Published on May 21, 2018 I am a longtime political independent. I am not on anybody’s political plantation. I do not agree with President Donald Trump on many political issues. I did not vote for him in 2016. We are polar opposites in the political world. However, Trump is absolutely right in his observation that some federal prosecutors have politicized the law enforcement process. This is especially true in cases where they personally dislike the “target” of their criminal investigations. Donald Trump and I are experiencing this brand of lawlessness first-hand. Both of us have been swept up in criminal investigations that are led by “rogue” federal prosecutors who are out of control and accountable to no one. This is not the first time America has experienced lawlessness inside federal law enforcement agencies. In 1976, the Church Committee brought this problem to the public’s attention with its Congressional Report on COINTELPRO, the FBI’s official campaign from 1956 to 1971 to smear and harass activists for social justice and equal opportunity in America. During the COINTELPRO campaign, the FBI and other federal law enforcement agencies routinely lied, cheated, and framed targeted individuals and organizations. In my case, neophyte U.S. Attorney Jay E. Town and his minions, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Lloyd Peeples and Assistant U.S. Attorney Xavier Carter, have resurrected a modern-day form of COINTELPRO by: (a) readily embracing perjured testimony; (b) withholding exculpatory evidence from inquisitive grand jurors; (c) impermissibly “twisting” witness testimony; (d) ignoring the plain language in corporate governance documents, contracts, and promissory notes; (e) presenting a knowingly false and misleading narrative of key events to grand jurors; and (f) using the federal government’s law enforcement apparatus to push a personal agenda of retribution. Town, Peeples, and Carter are leading a multi-agency federal task force that has spent eight months and thousands of manhours trying to prove a negative fact (i.e., that I engaged in criminal activity). When the credible evidence did not support their original legal theories of criminal conduct, these prosecutors expanded the scope of the investigation and desperately searched for alternative legal theories of culpability. Again, they came up empty-handed. Town, Peeples, and Carter have repeatedly departed from the guidelines established in the U.S. Attorneys Manual for conducting proper criminal investigations. When they were caught ignoring these guidelines, they simply lied about it and pressed on. Solving Army Private LaVena Johnson’s 2005 Murder Triggered a “Blitzkrieg” of Federal Probes Targeting Me In January of 2016, I solved the July 19, 2005 murder of 19-year-old Army Private LaVena Johnson on a military base in Balad, Iraq, and identified General Kevin P. Byrnes as her murderer. The Army had officially labeled Private Johnson’s death a “suicide”. I used forensic evidence, private autopsy results, military records, Private Johnson’s handwritten notes, and other tangible evidence available to Army investigators to establish that she was murdered. After meeting with President George W. Bush about Private Johnson’s “suicide” within a couple of weeks after her death, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and top Pentagon officials decided to classify Private Johnson’s death as a “national security” matter that could only be declassified with the written approval of the Secretary of Defense and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. On April 8, 2005, Secretary Rumsfeld fired General Byrnes from the Army. To this day, Private Johnson’s “suicide” investigative files remain sealed. Of the 85 suicides committed by uniformed military personnel in 2005, Private Johnson’s death was the only one that required a presidential briefing by the “CENTCOM General for Iraqi Operations”. After I published my exclusive investigative articles on Private Johnson’s murder in January and February of 2016, the Pentagon, with the assistance of a powerful U.S. Senator, worked to discredit me by getting the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”), Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”), and U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) to launch a coordinated “blitzkrieg” of federal probes into my business and personal financial affairs for the last 13 years. The senator in questioned sponsored Jay Town for his presidential appointment as U.S. Attorney. Town, in turn, agreed to spearhead the “blitzkrieg” targeting me. General Byrnes lives and works in Huntsville, Alabama, which is where Jay Town served an assistant district attorney prior to his appointment to the U.S. Attorney’s job. The two men have ties that bind them together, which is the subject of an upcoming investigative article. The SEC and FDIC eagerly cooperated with Jay Town, Lloyd Peeples, and Xavier Carter in their ongoing DOJ probe. The SEC even violated a federal court order by turning over attorney-client privileged document to Town’s minions, who violated Justice Department guidelines by accepting these privileged documents. Fortunately, the IRS's probe of my tax returns for each year, from 2009 to 2014, ended on June 7, 2017 with no additional taxes due. Politically motivated investigations are not unusual in Alabama. Former governor and convicted criminal Robert Bentley used this technique when he ordered the Alabama Banking Department to target and harass Alamerica Bank and me (as the bank’s largest shareholder) after I published news articles exposing his gubernatorial shortcomings in 2013 and his public corruption and martial cheating in 2015. The Banking Department dutifully complied with the governor's command. In 2016, Governor Bentley ordered former Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Chief Spencer Collier to investigate me for the express purpose of finding any criminal activity on my part. Collier asked Bentley whether he had “probable cause” to believe I had engaged in criminal activity, and Bentley replied, “no”. Yet, Bentley demanded a criminal investigation anyway. Collier refused and was later fired. Ironically, the financial transactions Jay Town, Lloyd Peeples, and Xavier Carter are probing were thoroughly investigated in 2015 and 2016 by the Economic Crimes Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey following a complaint filed by a New Jersey-based disgruntled business associate (who later dismissed his complaint after he discovered it lacked merit). That investigation was professionally conducted by highly respected federal prosecutors who objectively evaluated business records and witness testimony. The New Jersey prosecutors closed their investigation with no charges filed after reviewing the same financial transactions involved in Town's investigation. The best chance for reigning in “rogue” federal prosecutors like Jay Town, Lloyd Peeples, and Xavier Carter lies with President Donald Trump. Their modern-day COINTEPRO-style lawlessness is dangerous in a democratic society. All Trump has to do is fire these “rogue” prosecutors. He has the power to do it, and they deserve it. PHOTO: First Assistant U.S. Attorney Lloyd Peeples heads U.S. Attorney Jay E. Town's modern-day COINTELPRO campaign. He is assisted in this campaign by Assistant U.S. Attorney Xavier Carter.

By Donald V. Watkins ©Copyrighted and Published on May 19, 2018 By all accounts, AZ Cavalier Rescue is a very reputable, ethical, Phoenix, Arizona-based Cavalier rescue organization. AZ Cavalier Rescue was started in 2006 by a group of people who love Cavaliers and found there was a growing need for a Cavalier Rescue in Arizona. The organization helps any Cavalier in need.  It will re-home Cavaliers or put them into foster care. AZ Cavalier Rescue also takes in English Toy Spaniels and mixes. The organization has been known to pull small dogs off the euthanasia lists and place them in loving homes.   Even though its name says Cavalier, this organization tries to do what it can to help save any dog in need. Educating Its Supporters in the Cavalier Community On Friday, AZ Cavalier Rescue posted on its Facebook page all six of my recent articles that featured Birmingham, Alabama Attorney Angie Ingram, Greater Birmingham Humane Society CEO Allison Black Cornelius, and their highly-publicized "rescue” of Lineville, Alabama breeder Terri Taylor Easterbrooks’ Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppies and adult dogs at an auction held on November 22, 2014 in Wheaton, Missouri. Angie Ingram and her fellow "rescuers” promoted the Missouri "rescue” operation on a GoFundMe website as a mission to "save” Easterbrooks’ Cavaliers. The "rescuers” were successful in raising a total of $268,000 for this cause through a well-planned GoFundMe campaign and a separate PayPal solicitation held on the day of the auction. They used the donor money to purchase Easterbrooks’ Cavaliers and some other dogs at the auction. While planning the “rescue” operation, Angie Ingram and her “rescuers” called themselves the Cavalier Group of Greater Birmingham (“CGGB”). At the time, they also functioned as Cavalier Rescue USA’s Alabama coordinators and volunteers. During the funding solicitation campaign headed by "rescuer” Brittney Wilk, the women of CGGB never disclosed that they intended to keep some of the highest price Cavaliers for themselves. They had promised donors that the "saved” Cavaliers would go into Cavalier Rescue USA’s respectable foster home program first. From there, the Cavaliers would be adopted to pre-screened, qualified families who sought them as house pets. Instead, the "rescuers” cherry-picked the expensive Cavaliers they wanted, allocated these dogs among themselves, and adopted them to each other without any approval from Cavalier Rescue USA’s board of directors. The Cavaliers that were left over went into the foster home program. Afterwards, the "rescuers” disassociated themselves from Cavalier Rescue USA and later formed Cavalier Rescue of Alabama. Remarkably, Angie Ingram and "rescuer” Christina Carnes took ownership of two Cavaliers that Ingram purchased from other buyers at the Missouri auction for a total of $24,200.00 using donor money. “Rescuer” Lisa Thompson Goes Ballistic After AZ Cavalier Rescue posted my six articles that exposed how the CGGB group had "gamed” the national Cavalier rescue community and worldwide donors, "rescuer” Lisa Thompson went ballistic on the Arizona Cavalier rescue group. “Those are one-sided blogs written for the purpose of supporting the defendants, by someone with zero credibility”, wrote Thompson. "Have you seen the lawsuit [filed by Angie Ingram on behalf of Lisa Thompson and six fellow 'rescuers' against seven 'whistleblowers' who raised accountability and transparency questions in the aftermath of the Missouri rescue]?”, Thompson asked. "Why not post it? It tells a very different, and factual, story. How truly irresponsible”, she lamented. Lisa Thompson is a friend of Angie Ingram and Allison Black Cornelius. She is also a GBHS board member. In a very public display of disgust, Thompson made this post on AZ Cavalier Rescue’s Facebook page: "A reputable rescue does not behave as this one does. Bashing others, sharing 'paid' propaganda and supporting naysayers on a hate campaign who commit libel and bash rescue is just bad behavior.” AZ Cavalier Rescue responded in a respectful manner as follows: "Lisa we haven’t bashed anybody. We just posted the articles for others to read and make up their own minds about the situation.” Setting the Record Straight It is time to set the record straight regarding Lisa Thompson’s false and misleading claims. First, the so-called “one-sided” information that is presented in my news articles came directly from: (a) sworn discovery responses provided by Angie Ingram and her co-plaintiffs in their 2015 lawsuit against the “whistleblower” defendants; (b) public records from the Internal Revenue Service and Alabama Secretary of State on Cavalier Rescue of Alabama; (c) text messages, private Facebook messages from Lisa Thompson and her fellow “rescuers” to third parties and each other, and Facebook posts written by Lisa Thompson and other CGGB “rescuers”; (d) websites established and maintained by the CGGB “rescuers”; (e) affidavits signed by Allison Black Cornelius and Joey Kennedy; (f) the deposition testimony of Brittney Wilk; (g) public court records of the legal proceedings referenced in my articles; and (h) news accounts of the Missouri “rescue” that were generated by Angie Ingram and Allison Black Cornelius and published by their close friend, Joey Kennedy. Second, I am not a dog owner. As such, I do not have “a dog in this fight”. I do not have to spin the Cavalier "rescue” story for anybody’s benefit. My loyalty is to truth and justice. I have dedicated my life’s work to both of these cherished values. Third, it has always been difficult for my critics to dispute the detailed facts that are presented in my articles. Instead, they try to disparage my character and reputation. I call this a "kill the messenger" strategy. Here are a few examples of this strategy in recent years: Former Alabama Governor and convicted criminal Robert Bentley tried this strategy when he ordered the Alabama Banking Department to target and harass Alamerica Bank and me (as the bank’s largest shareholder) after I published news articles exposing his shortcomings as governor in 2013 and his public corruption and martial cheating in 2015. The Banking Department dutifully complied with the governor's command. Former Montgomery, Alabama federal judge Mark E. Fuller also tried this strategy after I published articles in 2014 that exposed his marital cheating and violent wife-beating conduct. Fuller was forced to resign from the federal bench in 2015 after a Court of Appeals judicial inquiry panel confirmed the findings in my news articles. Former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice and failed U.S. senatorial candidate Roy Moore tried this strategy after I exposed his lawlessness on the High Court. Moore unleashed his “Bible-thumping” campaign surrogates to attack my character and reputation on an unrelenting basis. Of course, Roy Moore is best known today as the reputed "child molester" who nearly won a U.S. Senate seat. In 2016, I solved the July 19, 2005 murder of 19-year-old Army Private LaVena Johnson on a military base in Balad, Iraq and identified her murderer as former four-star general Kevin P. Byrnes. The Army labeled Private Johnson’s death a “suicide”. I used forensic evidence and military records to establish that Private Johnson was murdered. After consulting with President George W. Bush about Private Johnson’s death, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and top Pentagon officials decided to classify her death as a “national security” matter that could only be declassified with the written approval of the Secretary of Defense and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. After I published an exclusive series of investigative articles on Private Johnson’s murder in January and February of 2016 and “outed” General Byrnes as her murderer, the Pentagon and a powerful U.S. Senator tried to discredit me by getting the Washington, D.C. offices of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Internal Revenue Service, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and U.S. Department of Justice to launch a “blitzkrieg” of probes into my business and personal financial affairs. Interestingly, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld fired General Byrnes from the Army on August 8, 2005. To this day, Private Johnson’s “suicide” investigative file remains sealed. The SEC, FDIC, and DOJ probes are ongoing. The IRS's probe of my annual tax returns from 2009 to 2014 ended with no additional taxes due. The family of Terry Jackson “Sweet T” Bunn, Jr., the designated “suspect” in the 2015 Megan Rondini rape case aligned itself with a Montgomery, Alabama-based public relations firm named Matrix, Inc., and its CEO, Joe Perkins, in its attempt to discredit my reporting on this rape case. In November 2015, Matrix and Perkins filed a highly publicized “defamation” lawsuit against me. Matrix and Perkins also sponsored “Deadbeat Donald” billboards in Tuscaloosa and an Internet website under the same domain name. Lisa Thompson is the latest attacker who has tried to discredit me in an effort to silence my journalistic voice. To date, none of her predecessors has been successful in their attacks. For five years, I have written and published articles on matters of significant public interest ranging from the engrained culture of rape in our society to the growing problem of public corruption at all levels of government, and from the duplicitous and morally bankrupt conduct of “public officials” and “public figures” to our need to hold prosecutors accountable for their failure to prosecute cases against rich and powerful criminal suspects. During this period, I have never sold advertisements to support my website or Facebook page. I have never been “paid” by any individual, special interest group, or political candidate to write a favorable or unfavorable article. Finally, I have never sought or received anything of value from any individual or organization that has been the subject of my articles.  My independent and transparent approach to investigative journalism has given birth to a large and growing audience that is hungry for truth in journalism. Epilogue Freedom of speech in America allows people like Lisa Thompson, Angie Ingram, Allison Black Cornelius, and others of their ilk to be completely wrong in their observations about my character and reputation. It also affords this group of women the freedom to keep spinning their misleading narrative about what really happened to Terri Taylor Easterbrooks and her Cavaliers. At the end of the day, I am a “public figure”. I realize that America has given these women the freedom of speech to criticize me, as well. In America, you have the right to be wrong about a “public official” and “public figure”. This is one more reason why America is the greatest country the world has ever known. PHOTO: Birmingham, Alabama Cavalier "rescuer", business woman, and GBHS board member, Lisa Thompson.

By Donald V. Watkins ©Copyrighted and Published on May 18, 2018 I do not know Brittany Luckenbaugh, but I was deeply moved by her story and courage. This 22-year-old University of Alabama student was sexually assaulted in Tuscaloosa, Alabama on the night of her birthday. She was raped in the worst kind of way. The three men who raped Brittany were not prosecuted. Now, Brittany is bravely showing other rape victims the pathway forward. On her Facebook page, Brittany has asked that we share her story in the hope that it might save other women who have been raped and sexually assaulted. On May 11, 2018, Brittany shared her story with the world.  Here it is: “To the girl who feels like she doesn’t have any strength left in her… ​You are not alone.  I have been there and to be perfectly honest with you, I am still here and it is just the beginning of a long journey ahead. March 28th 2018 was a night that was supposed to be something worth remembering.  My 22nd birthday. Instead, it turned into the night where I suddenly felt like, for once, I had completely lost all strength and, most importantly, all hope. It was the night that I wish so desperately I could erase from my mind and never let return. The night began with laughter, music, and best friends all being in the same place and having a night out to forget about the homework, the real world creeping in on us in just a few short months, and anything else that we decided to put to aside for the evening. Later that night we were at one of our favorite bars at school and I ended up getting separated from the group I had been with all night. I quickly found another friend and left to walk to another bar a couple of blocks down the street. A few minutes later, I found myself separated once again. This is when I decided to walk home and call it a night. As I began walking home, I was approached by two males asking if I needed a ride home. Innocent me, who has always tried to see the best in everyone, agreed to getting a ride home. Keep in mind, the alcohol was also playing a role in this decision. Shortly after getting into the car and realizing that we had passed my house, I was told that we were going to keep the party going and I was then taken to another home with which I was not familiar. After stumbling into the house I was taken into a bedroom where I was immediately taken advantage of in the worst way a girl could imagine. ​You hear the word “rape” and think that it will never become a part of your vocabulary and certainly would never be something that could possibly happen to you. It did, however, and I ended up being raped by three men who I did not know. I remember trying to push them away and saying the word “no” over and over and over again. At this point, the only thing I could feel was a sense of helplessness.  I remember begging to be taken home and the next thing I knew, I had woken up at the foot of my roommates bed the next morning feeling like I had just awakened from the worst nightmare I could’ve imagined. Instead, I woke up only to realize that the entire next month and probably months after would end up being just as bad, if not worse. ​They say that the very first thing you do in a situation like this is tell someone, which is exactly what I did. I gathered my roommates and we all decided that we needed to call my parents and then be taken to the emergency room. Everything from that point became a blur very quickly. There are a few things that come back to me such as lying outside our house on the balcony crying in the pouring rain and having to be physically carried into the house. Having to be stripped down from head to toe in the hospital and examined with a black light.  Having to watch both parents look at me like I had just lost every ounce of my innocence while it was completely ripped from me. It then turned into nightmare after nightmare and flashback after flashback. I stopped eating. The most sleep I was getting was 2 hours a night, if that. But most importantly, the smile on my face was completely gone – stripped away in what seemed like a matter of moments. Here I am today writing this, not knowing when that smile will return, if ever. ​After going through every step of this process that I was “supposed” to go through, I had still not made the decision to prosecute if they were apprehended. If it was only going to hurt my mental health in the long run and if the outcome was going to be like many of the other cases that we had seen take place, why would I? A few weeks later I received a phone call and was told that there was more than enough evidence to charge all three men with rape in the first degree but that my permission was needed. After speaking with both of my parents, I decided that if I was going to help stop this from happening to other women in the future, I was going to proceed with the charges being filed. After all, justice needed to be served. The reason I chose today to write this and to tell my story is because today [May 11, 2018] is the day I was told that the grand jury has decided that there was ultimately not enough evidence to continue moving forward with the case. It would not be fair to put me through being cross-examined three different times if it was going to be this difficult to prove that these three men were guilty.  In this moment, every bit of my strength and hope were once again completely gone. I had been told over and over again that I am so brave for doing all of these things that are required in cases like this and what had happened to me did not define the way that I could live the rest of my life. Here I am, a senior at the University of Alabama, the school that I had dreamed of going to since I was a 12-year-old innocent little girl, miserable in the place that was supposed to be a ‘home away from home’ while I am 12 hours away from my hometown. All of the happiness that I once felt at this school, turned into fear and turned into hate. These three men had people fighting for them and had people trying so desperately to “clear their names from the system” and yet I was just another victim who was told that there was nothing more they could do. It felt as if no one was fighting for me like they were fighting for them. Today I am deciding to share my story in hopes of speaking to other women who are dealing with the same thing and who feel the same loneliness that I have felt since the night of my birthday.  I am here to remind you that it doesn’t matter how short your skirt was that night, or how much alcohol you had consumed, or even if you were naïve like me and accepted a ride home. It is not, and never will be, your fault. The only thing that could’ve possibly changed this situation was the man, or men that did this to you.  I am here to tell you that you are not alone, and you are never alone. I am here to tell you that no matter what a room full of people from the community decide in a Grand Jury room, they will never be able to take away what happened to you and turn it into something that is not important. The feelings you are feeling are something that are real and they are something that do not go away overnight. I still wake up and have those horrible memories every day. What I do know, is that today I will strive to make a difference. I will also decide to call myself a survivor and not another victim whose case was taken far too lightly in the courtroom.  Most importantly I am here to tell you, and also remind myself, that your bright smile that once lit up a room full of many people, will once shine again.” In bravely telling her story, Brittany Luckenbaugh left us with these words: “Thank you to those of you that have held my hand through this experience and who have continued to make the biggest difference in my life. I am also thanking God for giving me another beautiful day on this earth to make a difference in someone else’s life and turn a horrific experience into something positive.” As a former Special Assistant Attorney General for the State of Alabama who handled major felony cases against powerful defendants (including high-ranking police officers who murdered victims), here is my message to Tuscaloosa County Sheriff Ron Abernathy, former Tuscaloosa County District Attorney Lyn Head, current District Attorney Hays Webb, and Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall: I am sick and tired of your pathetic excuses for not prosecuting rape cases against powerful "suspects". Bill Cosby would love you. Everybody inside the local criminal justice system knows from the Megan Rondini and Brittany Luckenbaugh rape cases that you will routinely use the grand jury process as a vehicle to cover up your unwillingness to prosecute rape cases when well-connected “suspects” are involved. How many rape victims are you willing to betray before you do your jobs as law enforcement officials? PHOTO: Brittany Luckenbaugh during happier days.

By Donald V. Watkins ©Copyrighted and Published on May 17, 2018 Megan Rondini is shown during her interview with Tuscaloosa Sheriff's Department Investigator Adam Jones on July 2, 2015. She was bullied and threatened by Jones during her most vulnerable moment as a young woman who was seeking justice for a promptly and properly reported rape. Sheriff Ron Abernathy made sure the justice Megan was seeking was denied to her. Attorney General Steve Marshall ratified this tragic outcome. Megan ended her suffering on February 26, 2016. On May 16, 2018, Ron Abernathy publicly patted himself on the back for the way he handled Megan's case. Yesterday, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama Sheriff Ron Abernathy patted himself on the back for the way his law enforcement agency handled the criminal investigation of a rape that was reported by 20-year-old University of Alabama honors student Megan Rondini during the early morning hours of July 2, 2015. Megan’s rape “suspect” was identified as 35-year-old Terry Jackson “Sweet T” Bunn, Jr., a known sexual predator who cruises Tuscaloosa-area bars and clubs in search of young coeds for sexual gratification. Sweet T’s family members are major donors to the Alabama Crimson Tide Foundation. His father’s Cessna jet has been used by the University’s Athletics Department on football recruiting trips. Ron Abernathy’s wife, Leslie, heads major fundraising initiatives for The University of Alabama. Sheriff Abernathy is a Crimson Tide football groupie who reveres his access to skyboxes and celebrities during Alabama football games. Sources connected to the Sheriff’s Department, who must remain anonymous because they are not authorized to publicly speak on this subject, have confirmed that Sheriff Abernathy directed his investigators to “script” Megan Rondini’s rape investigation. This order ensured that Sweet T would escape criminal justice in Megan’s rape case. The two lead investigators -- Adam Jones and Josh Hastings -- quickly developed a multifaceted approach to complying with Abernathy’s "scripting" directive. First, Jones and Hastings shielded Sweet T from being associated with the crime of sexual assault. Investigator Hastings actually suggested answers to Sweet T during his videotaped police “interrogation”. Hastings ingratiated himself to the “suspect” throughout his interview with him. Hastings ended the interview with this telling “good ole boy” declaration: “The way I look at, man, if it was me on the other side of it, I would want you to do the same for me.” Second, the investigators provided the illusion of an investigation while actively allowing evidence to be tampered with, destroyed or simply not collected. They failed to secure and freeze the crime scene on their first visit to Sweet T’s residence (where Megan said she was raped). They also allowed Sweet T a two-hour window of opportunity to hide, alter, or destroy evidence at the scene after informing him that they were conducting a rape investigation in a case where he was the designated “suspect”. Additionally, they gave Sweet T a two-hour window at the scene to coordinate and script his storyline with friend Jason Barksdale, who was present on the scene during the time of the sexual encounter between Megan and Sweet T. Third, the investigators attempted to create leverage over Megan Rondini by accusing her of property crimes she allegedly committed during her escape from the crime scene. Investigator Jones even read Megan her Miranda rights during her police interview. In doing so, Jones hoped Megan would drop her rape complaint. Even under threats and bullying from Investigator Jones, a traumatized Megan Rondini pressed on with her rape charge against Sweet T. Fourth, the investigators downgraded Megan’s rape report to a “Special Inquiry”, which is not reported in law enforcement databases as a crime. This move was designed to keep Sweet T’s name out of databases on reported rapes. Finally, Sheriff Abernathy asked Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall to review the Department’s investigation of Megan’s rape case. Marshall, a former Marshall County, Alabama district attorney, lacks experience in prosecuting rape cases and other major felonies. What is more, Marshall has a documented personal history of looking the other way when victims like Donna Dunlap complained about “horrific” sexual assaults that are committed by powerful men, including a member of his staff. Women In Alabama Have A Real Opportunity To Police And Prosecute Rapists Women voters in Alabama finally have a real opportunity to police and prosecute powerful rapists. Unfortunately, Ron Abernathy and Steve Marshall just don’t get it. As demonstrated by their official actions, Abernathy and Marshall think their job is to cover for each other and protect rich and well-connected rapists through the use and abuse of prosecutorial discretion. Neither man has a solid track record of convictions in rape cases involving powerful men. Abernathy and Marshall are viewed as nothing more than photogenic “mascots” in the law enforcement community. They are also considered as political hustlers. In December 2017, women voters in Alabama rose up to end the U.S. senatorial hopes of Roy Moore, who emerged in the closing weeks of the campaign as a reputed child molester. Women voters simply could not bear the thought of a reported child molester representing them in Washington. For reasons that defied law enforcement logic and undermined victims rights, Attorney General Steve Marshall joined the ranks of those who publicly supported Moore’s candidacy. On June 5, 2018, women voters, along with men who truly respect the minds, bodies, and dignity of women, have an paradigm-shifting opportunity to retire Steve Marshall as Attorney General and replace him with a tough, seasoned prosecutor who understands the culture of rape and how we can end it. This prosecutor is Alice Martin. Her long and distinguished track record in putting well-known criminals in jail is second to none. No woman should suffer Megan Rondini’s tragic fate. Megan reached a breaking point in her rape case on February 26, 2016 when she committed suicide in her Texas home. Meanwhile, Sweet T is still cruising Tuscaloosa bars and clubs looking for his next sexual prey. The next rape victim in Alabama may be your daughter, granddaughter, sister, niece, wife, mother, or close friend. If the rapist is a rich and powerful man, it is a safe bet that Sheriff Ron Abernathy and Attorney General Steve Marshall will not stand with you and your grieving family.

By Donald V. Watkins ©Copyrighted and Published on May 16, 2018 Today, Tuscaloosa County Sheriff Ron Abernathy joined a long list of "public officials" and "public figures" who claim that they have been defamed by those who seek to hold them accountable for their demonstrated failure to protect the lives and safety of rape victims. Abernathy has been the subject of numerous online news articles on this subject because of his role in “scripting” the 2015 rape investigation of University of Alabama honors student Megan Rondini. Megan committed suicide in 2016 after the rape “suspect” in her case escaped criminal justice. Meanwhile, this “suspect”, who is known in Tuscaloosa, Alabama as a sexual predator, roams local bars and clubs in this college town in search of young college-age women for sexual gratification. The rape “suspect” in Megan's case is privately referred to in some law enforcement circles as a “dirt bag”. Yet, he is untouchable because his family members are mega donors to the Alabama Crimson Tide Foundation that supports the University’s championship football program. Additionally, Abernathy's wife Leslie heads major fundraising initiatives for The University of Alabama. Sheriff Abernathy says an independent review of his office’s handling of the Megan Rondini rape investigation cleared him of any wrongdoing in the case. Specifically, Abernathy claims “the Alabama Attorney General’s Office reviewed the case and approved our investigators’ actions, and the investigative process.” It is widely known in Alabama that Attorney General Steve Marshall was handpicked by former governor Robert Bentley in February 2017 for a gubernatorial appointment the AG’s position because Bentley believed Marshall was the weakest prosecutor in the state. At the time, Bentley was under an Attorney General's Office criminal investigation for violations of state ethics laws. In April 2017, Steve Marshall approved a controversial plea deal in Governor Bentley’s criminal case in which four felony charges against Bentley were reduced to misdemeanor charges. Bentley promptly pled guilty to the misdemeanors and received a no-jail-time sentence. He resigned as governor on the same day. Bentley’s “sweetheart” plea deal with Marshall put a "happy face" smile on the former governor as he was arrested and booked at the Montgomery County Courthouse. Bentley's mugshot, which is pictured below, says it all. Abernathy sees Marshall’s review of his actions in Megan Rondini’s rape case as vindication of the Sheriff’s Department’s investigative actions and process. Marshall, a former Marshall County, Alabama district attorney, lacks experience in prosecuting rape cases. What is more, Marshall also has a history of looking the other way when victims like Donna Dunlap complain about “horrific” sexual assaults. Abernathy’s statement also points to the January 8, 2018 dismissal of two Sheriff’s Department investigators and himself from a federal lawsuit filed against them by the family of Megan Rondini. Abernathy suggests that this court action cleared him of wrongdoing. It did not. The dismissal was based upon the court's recognition of the "qualified immunity" government officials enjoy for their official actions, as opposed to a judicial finding that Abernathy and his investigators acted properly in the Rondini rape case. Sheriff Abernathy's statement regarding his dismissal as a defendant in the Rondini lawsuit is reprinted in full below: “When I was elected Sheriff of Tuscaloosa County, I understood the public position I was taking and that criticism often comes with it. As Sheriff, unwarranted attacks on my character and judgement come with the job, except for intentional, false, misleading and malicious conduct. We trust that the truth will ultimately prevail. After several months of unjust accusations against my office and other Tuscaloosa law enforcement agencies, the truth has indeed finally prevailed. A lawsuit filed against two investigators and me regarding the Megan Rondini suicide has been dismissed. It was dismissed because it was unfounded from the beginning. The investigation that was the subject of the lawsuit has been examined thoroughly and completely by several entities, and actions taken by Sheriff’s Office investigators have been affirmed. After it was investigated, it was heard in its entirety by a Grand Jury. No probable cause that a crime had occurred was found and no indictment was issued. Our actions were questioned and, at my request, the Alabama Attorney General’s Office reviewed the case and approved our investigators’ actions, and the investigative process. Finally, a federal district court decided the case and dismissed all civil litigation against me and against the investigators. This case and the investigation has undergone complete scrutiny, proving beyond any doubt that the accusations previously made against the Sheriff’s Office and our community were completely false. We hope this incident will serve as a lesson to all that social media cannot, and should not, be the venue in which any case is tried, and that social media sites should not be trusted as a reliable source of substantiated information regarding important matters. False allegations made by internet bloggers and certain out of state journalists, and perpetuated by local political hacks have done damage to our community in that some victims have been reluctant to come forward to report cases, fearing that their information will be made known on social media. For those who have facilitated these injustices on Facebook and other sites, civil litigation should be expected, if for no other reason than to prevent this from occurring in the future. Baseless slander directed against innocent parties should be addressed and the offending parties held accountable. Those who perpetuate the false allegations for their own political gain should be held accountable. Their lack of integrity and self-serving disregard for the truth resulted in an unjustified attack on our community and many of its most respected institutions. Our message must be strong and clear, that libelous behavior will not be tolerated.” Ron Abernathy's press statement today raises more questions than it answered. For example, did Attorney General Steve Marshall issue a written report about this matter? If so, where is it? Did Marshall’s Office interview Rondini family members and/or their attorneys before issuing his report? Was Steve Marshall the beneficiary of campaign contributions from Political Action Committees that received donations from family members of the rape “suspect” in Megan Rondini’s case? Why did Abernathy wait five months before making a press statement about a court ordered dismissal that occurred in January? Why did Abernathy failed to refute the specific facts that were reported by BuzzFeed News and this journalist in 2017 regarding his Sheriff's Department’s mishandling of the Megan Rondini rape investigation? Based upon Ron Abernathy’s self-promotional statement and Steve Marshall’s incompetence as Attorney General, it will be quite some time before the #MeToo Movement takes hold in Alabama. One thing is for sure -- a rich and powerful rapist like Bill Cosby would not have been prosecuted by Sheriff Ron Abernathy and Attorney General Steve Marshall for sexual assault crimes committed in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. That's not their thing. Meanwhile, Alabama voters and Justice for Megan Rondini supporters have a chance during the Republican Primary elections on June 5, 2018 to retire Steve Marshall as Attorney General and usher in a tough, seasoned prosecutor with the election of Alice Martin. PHOTO: Tuscaloosa County Sheriff Ron Abernathy and his wife Leslie at an Alabama Crimson Tide football game. PHOTO: Governor Bentley appoints Steve Marshall as Attorney General in February 2017. This was one of the happiest days of Marshall's life. PHOTO: Former Governor Robert Bentley's "happy face" mugshot on April 8, 2017.

By Donald V. Watkins ©Copyrighted and Published on May 12, 2018 They called her, “The Beast”. She has been described as the “Michael Vick” of the Cavalier world. Vick, of course, is the former NFL quarterback whose career came to a halt in 2007 after he pleaded guilty to federal conspiracy charges for his involvement in a dog-fighting ring and spent 21 months in federal prison. She is in her early 50s and has no criminal conviction of any kind. Her dogs were never bred for fighting and were never brutally executed, as was the case with Michael Vick. They demonized her by falsely claiming she earned “blood money” from her breeding of Cavaliers, even though her kennel operations complied with every federal, state, and local regulation and law that governed her lawful business activities. They mocked the “puppy millers/Amish people” who bought her well bred and properly documented stock of Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppies and adult dogs. They monitored her kennel and constantly stalked her. They Forced Her Descent Into a Living Hell Led by Birmingham, Alabama attorney Angie Hubbard Ingram and Kentucky lawyer Lindsey Cordes, they began to use the legal system to harass and abuse her. They complained to regulatory bodies, law enforcement officials, and animal control agencies about her kennel operations. As a result of their persistent complaints, her Rock Cliff Farms kennel in Lineville, Alabama was physically inspected to ensure that the lives and safety of her Cavaliers were not endangered. No violations of animal welfare regulations and laws were found. Yet, they continued to file complaints against her. Eventually, her Rock Cliff Farms property was raided by an animal control agency, with the assistance of local law enforcement authorities. Several Cavaliers were taken for veterinary examinations. Again, no animal welfare violations were found, and the Cavaliers were returned to her custody and control. They tried to force a turnover of her Cavaliers to Cavalier Rescue USA through a lawsuit they filed against her. This litigation caused her severe emotional distress and mental anguish, in addition to mounting legal fees. In the end, their forced turnover effort was not successful. By 2014, she was tired of fighting the demonization of her name and lawful business activities, the unsuccessful efforts to seize her Cavaliers, and the pressures of malicious court litigation. To end the dreadful nightmare they had created in her world, she decided to give up her beloved Cavaliers. In order to wind down her kennel operations, she arranged for the sale of her Cavaliers at a Wheaton, Missouri auction scheduled for November 22, 2014. The lawyers who sought to “rescue” her beautiful Cavalier puppies and adult dogs solicited clients to file a lawsuit against her on the eve of the auction. “We need Plaintiffs that are out-of-state…. I know you are interested in suing [her]….We want to file this [lawsuit against her] before the auction on the 22nd and attempt to get an order of garnishment so her bank account is frozen with the auction proceeds.…”, said Attorney Cordes. Of course, Bar Association rules in Kentucky and Alabama prohibit the solicitation of clients. The “rescuers” hatched a plan to “save” her Cavaliers at the auction. Calling themselves the Cavalier Group of Greater Birmingham (“CGGB”), they were actually Cavalier Rescue USA’s Alabama coordinators and volunteers. They used $268,000 in publicly solicited GoFundMe money and PayPal funds to purchase all of her Cavaliers at the auction. During the funding solicitation efforts headed by “rescuer” Brittney Wilk, the women of CGGB never disclosed that they intended to keep some of the highest price Cavaliers for themselves. While soliciting the “rescue” money, the women of CGGB promised that the “saved” Cavalier dogs from her Rock Cliff Farms would go into Cavalier Rescue USA’s respectable foster home program first. From there, the Cavaliers would be adopted to pre-screened, qualified families who sought them as house pets. Instead, the “rescuers” cherry-picked the expensive Cavaliers they wanted, allocated these dogs among themselves, and adopted them to each other without any approval from Cavalier Rescue USA’s board of directors. The Cavaliers that were left over went into the foster home program. Afterwards, the “rescuers” disassociated themselves from Cavalier Rescue USA. As planned, they sued her, froze her bank account, and put a legal chokehold on her life. “We want to milk her out of her $”, said CGGB “rescuer” Lisa Thompson in late December 2014. “We are going to hit her hard. And her lawyer is old and tired …. not one expected to fight”, she bragged. In 2015, their aggressive tactics forced her into bankruptcy. “How do you live with yourself”, one of the cyber-bullies asked as they publicly trashed her name and reputation on the Internet. “There is a special place in H*** for you… because you can’t hid anymore.” The emotional, physical, and financial toll that this unimaginable and highly coordinated harassment campaign took on her life as a law-abiding citizen and loving Cavalier breeder was devastating. She lost her dogs; she lost her kennel; she lost her property; she lost her health; she lost her husband; and she lost her purpose-driven life. Ironically, she was regarded as a highly reputable breeder of Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppies and adult dogs for over a decade before she became the target of an orchestrated, nasty, and highly effective campaign of harassment and bullying. Alone and unprotected, she tried to take her life within a week after the last of her beloved Cavaliers were sold in a privately arranged transfer of ownership transaction in early 2015. She had nothing left to give. They pushed her toward the brink of death in the name of “rescuing” her Cavaliers. Ending the Nightmare Fortunately for those who abhor bullying, she survived. Her name is Terri Taylor Easterbrooks. Terri’s tragic experience symbolizes what happens when those who play “dirty” in the name of doing “good” target decent people for harassment and bullying in order to advance their own narrow-minded, self-centered interests. Thus far, the CGGB Cavalier “rescuers’ who ruined Terri Easterbrooks’ life have escaped accountability for their egregious bullying of her for two primary reasons: First, they are connected to Allison Black Cornelius, President and CEO of the Greater Birmingham Humane Society (“GBHS”). Second, Angie Ingram, a debt collection attorney, is proficient at using Alabama’s legal system to harass and bully targeted individuals. The women of CGGB now call themselves “Cavalier Rescue of Alabama, Inc.” They are still doing their thing. Angie Ingram’s newest organization, the Puppy Mill Project, formed a partnership with GBHS in 2017. “Rescuer” Lisa Thompson is a GBHS board member. Allison Black Cornelius used GHBS resources and staff members to aid and abet CGGB’s “rescue” of Terri Easterbrooks’ Cavaliers at the Missouri auction. True to form, Angie Ingram, Brittney Wilk, Lisa Thompson, and four other CGGB “rescuers” sued seven “whistleblowers” who raised well-founded ethical questions about CGGB’s Missouri “rescue” operation. Allison Black Cornelius, who is listed in the March 20, 2018 online edition of Alabama Today as one of the most influential women in Alabama, encouraged Ingram to “sue the daylights out of this woman [referring to “whistleblower” Heather Halldin].” Ingram, who is tied to the hip with Cornelius, dutifully complied. Cornelius’ personal and professional association with Ingram, Thompson, and their CGGB companions provided a cloak of legitimacy for CGGB’s bullying of Terri Taylor Easterbrooks and the lawsuit against the “whistleblowers” who raised questions about the Missouri Cavalier “rescue’ operation, of which Cornelius and GBHS were an integral part. By her complicit actions, Cornelius has now called GBHS's entire operations into question. Bouncing Back from the Brink of Death As for Terri Taylor Easterbrooks, she is slowly bouncing back from that “special place in H***” where the CGGB “rescuers” sent her. Her present whereabouts are unknown. Terri Easterbrooks, a Rhode Island native and former Florida resident, no longer has to fight this bullying campaign alone. Her cry for help has been heard. Those who are committed to exposing and stopping bullying are now aware of her plight. Now, we know who Terry Taylor Easterbrooks is, and why she matters to those of us who respect the rule of law and sanctity of human life. The bullying of Terri Easterbrooks will end -- very soon. Those who bullied Easterbrooks to the point of near-suicide will be held accountable. Meanwhile, it is time to demand full accountability and transparency at GBHS and Cavalier Rescue of Alabama. Accountability begins with telling the truth about these two organizations and their questionable animal welfare practices and deployable “rescue” tactics. Stay tuned. PHOTO: Terri Taylor Easterbrooks with her Cavaliers during happier days.