Republican Governor Denies Sexual Relationship With Top Aide, Vows to Not Resign
Lawmakers in Alabama today announced they will be filing articles of impeachment against Gov. Robert Bentley after weeks of news and rumor that the Republican governor had an affair with a top aide. She recently resigned, but damning and embarrassing audio tapes reveal what lawmakers are calling an “inappropriate relationship.”
At a news conference today Republican Rep. Ed Henry stated some of his colleagues believe they can no longer trust what Gov. Bentley says.
The AP reports the Alabama state constitution “lays out a loose procedure for impeachment for offenses including moral turpitude, willful neglect of duty and corruption, among other things. Henry said his filing accuses Bentley of all of those things, as well as incompetence.”
“We’re looking at this governor who has essentially betrayed the trust of the people of Alabama,” Rep. Henry said. “This is about the actions and lies that have caused us some doubts about his leadership.”
“If he truly loves the people of this state, he will step down,” Henry urged.
In a statement, Gov. Bentley says lawmakers have “no grounds for impeachment,” and says, “I will vigorously defend myself and my administration from this political attack.”
“Today’s press conference is nothing more than political grandstanding intended to grab headlines and take the focus away from the important issues the Legislature still has to address before the end of the session,†the statement adds.Â
Last year, Gov. Bentley filed an amicus brief stating that same-sex marriage should be illegal because anti-incest and anti-polygamy laws are necessary.
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