Sixty Rayburn - Allegations Against Rayburn Refuted

Allegations Against Rayburn Refuted

Rayburn's lengthy career ended amid allegations of scandal in the 1990s. He was accused of having taken bribes to protect video poker interests. He was found not guilty of the allegations, but he had already lost his bid for a twelfth full Senate term. "I’ve sold a lot of things in my life, but I’ve never sold a vote, and I want them to prove it," Rayburn told his jury. Rayburn later returned to the state Capitol to lobby for legislation to protect thoroughbred horse racing and to maintain hog-dog competitions, which animal rights groups oppose. In such contests, dogs are used to hunt wild hogs. Rayburn noted that it was Earl Long who took him on his first hog hunt in 1948, a sport for which Rayburn developed a passion. Of Long, Rayburn said, "He was just my type of person. He was down to earth. He liked hogs, cattle and people."