U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) has been under fire after a recent Washington Post report questioned his Alabama residency.
The report suggested Alabama's senior U.S. Senator's home was in Santa Rosa Beach, Fla., an allegation made repeatedly during Tuberville's 2020 U.S. Senate contest.
During Monday's broadcast of Mobile radio FM Talk 106.5's "The Jeff Poor Show," Tuberville batted down those allegations and claimed they were a product of retribution for his holds on military confirmations.
"We went through this during the election," he said. "I've had a house in Santa Rosa Beach for about 22 years now. But this same guy had written three articles ever since I've had these holds because that's how they do it. They gang up on you through the media up there."
"The guys that I ran through and ran against when I was running for this job didn't hide anything," Tuberville continued. "They ran all kinds of advertisements, 'He's got a house in Destin.' Well, so do thousands of other Alabamians."
Tuberville acknowledged spending time at his house in Florida but maintained his home was in Auburn, where he once coached.
He also noted it was a controversy during the 2020 contest, in which he won both his party's nomination in a runoff with former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions and the general election against then-incumbent U.S. Sen. Doug Jones (D-Mountain Brook).
"I live in Auburn," he added. "I spend most of my time in D.C. But when I am back, I'm either in Auburn or I go to Destin. Depending on what I have to do in the state, if it has been a long week, sometimes I might want to go to the beach and get away from this craziness. But I spend a tremendous amount of time in the state, going around seeing people, Jeff. And that's what it's all about. And again, if people didn't want me in there, I wouldn't have won by 20% in the last election."
"It is what it is," Tuberville continued. "I think people know now they are getting their money's worth because I'm fighting for them. All of this stuff is not about me. This is about the people of our state. Hopefully, we can continue that track. And again, next election, if people don't want me to go back up there because I spend a few days a month in Destin, Florida, so be it."
Jeff Poor is the editor in chief of 1819 News and host of "The Jeff Poor Show," heard Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-noon on Mobile's FM Talk 106.5. To connect or comment, email jeff.poor@1819News.com or follow him on Twitter @jeff_poor.
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