Varrie Johnson Kindall , attorney John Robbins , and Rep. John Rogers leave the federal courthouse in Birmingham after Kindall and Rogers' appearances. State Rep. John Rogers and his longtime assistant share both federal corruption charges and a Shelby County home, according to information provided at their arraignments today in federal court.
Rogers, 82, is charged with one count of obstruction of justice and one count of obstruction of justice by bribery, according to the indictment in late September. The indictment says Rogers attempted to bribe an unnamed person to lie to federal investigators about a kickback scheme in exchange for receiving public funding for the person’s unnamed nonprofit organization.
“I understand that Mr. Rogers resides in your home,” Judge Cornelius said to Kindall during her appearance. “John Rogers will follow the judge’s instructions,” Robbins said, in response to a question about how Rogers will keep from discussing the case with Kindall while living with her. “He will not violate any order of the court. It’s as simple as that.”
In an interview outside the courthouse, Robbins said that Rogers plans to fulfill the remaining three years of his term.Rogers has said he will seek a 12th term. Rogers did not make a public statement as he left the courthouse with Kindall around 12:30 p.m. today. Kindall drove the pair away in a brown Nissan truck, and Rogers waved as they pulled away. Robbins said that Rogers had a doctor’s appointment at 1 p.m.