06/05/2026
Marshall Responds to Allegations Made in Attorney General's Race
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall released a statement Friday responding to what he described as false allegations made against his office in a political advertisement released by a candidate in the race for attorney general.
According to the release, Marshall addressed criticism involving the handling of the case of former Montgomery police officer Aaron Cody Smith.
"I find it reprehensible that someone who wants to hold the office of Attorney General would, for an attempt at political gain, recklessly attack the office he wants to lead. For some time, this candidate has felt the need to smear the record of this office on an array of matters that he knows nothing about; however, these misstatements about me, my staff, and the conduct of the entire Attorney General's Office—which is a matter of public record—cannot go unanswered any longer," Marshall said.
Marshall said Smith was prosecuted by the former Montgomery County District Attorney, charged with murder and convicted of manslaughter. He said the Attorney General's Office handled the conviction on appeal and later intervened after the case returned to the trial court.
"Officer Smith was prosecuted by the former District Attorney of Montgomery County. He was charged with murder and convicted of manslaughter. According to our legally mandated duty, my office handled the conviction on appeal. Years later, when the case returned to the trial court, my office took the extremely rare step of intervening and offering the officer a plea agreement that would permit the officer to immediately return home. The Montgomery County District Attorney objected to the resentencing, asked the court to preserve the previous sentence of fourteen years, and noted that the officer believed he was 'above the law' and that he 'intentionally and unlawfully killed Greg Gunn.' Nevertheless, our agreement was entered by the court and the officer was released," Marshall said.
Marshall also discussed actions his office took after Smith's release from prison.
"After his release from prison, my office gave Officer Smith a recommendation for a state job and even recently, was trying to assist him in his pursuit of a pardon. What makes this especially difficult, and personal to so many in my office, is that Officer Smith himself sent us a letter thanking us for our assistance in his case. Nothing about the facts have changed, only the political season. I have immense compassion for Officer Smith and what he endured and am sad to see his story used as a misguided political weapon against those who fought to help him. No matter what Officer Smith chooses to say now, any one of us would help him again in a heartbeat," Marshall said.
Marshall's statement was released June 5 and comes as campaigning continues in Alabama's race for attorney general.
