By By Kerry Whipple Bean
publisher
Attorney General Troy King and gambling task force commander John Tyson Jr. continued a war of words Tuesday, a day after King said he would take over the task force and temporarily stop its raids on Alabama casinos.
King said he was dismissing John Tyson Jr. as commander of the task force, but Tyson refused, saying he served at the request of Gov. Bob Riley.
King said he would ask courts to decide whether the gambling machines at Alabama casinos are legal.
On Tuesday, King said two casinos poised to reopen today — White Hall and Country Crossing — would open as scheduled unless Tyson produced evidence that they should be closed.
Riley said Tuesday he was disappointed by King’s actions, noting he had been in discussions with King for some time about how to proceed on the issue. Riley said King had “no authority” over the task force.