Bentley: 'There is nothing illegal' in controversy

Gov. Robert Bentley said Thursday he broke no laws in a controversy over his relationship with a former staffer, a controversy that has led to some calls for him to resign.

“I can assure the people of Alabama there is nothing there,” Bentley said during a press conference at Julia Tutwiler Prison for Women Thursday morning, where the governor touted his proposal to build four large new prisons in the state.

Former Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Secretary Collier last week accused Bentley of having an affair with Rebekah Caldwell Mason, his senior political adviser, and using state funds to further it.

Collier said he had no proof. Audio of Bentley making suggestive comments on a phone call has surfaced.

The governor last week said he made inappropriate remarks to Mason and said he apologized for them to his family and Mason’s. Bentley and his wife Dianne divorced last fall after 50 years of marriage. But Bentley and Mason both denied having a physical affair, and Bentley said there was no misuse of state resources.

Mason announced her resignation as Bentley’s political adviser Wednesday. The Alabama Ethics Commission is preparing an investigation into the matter. Some legislators have called on Bentley to resign. Rep. Ed Henry, R-Hartselle, said Wednesday he planned to file impeachment articles against Bentley, though the political and constitutional support for such a move is unclear.

Bentley has resisted calls to resign and said Thursday he would “put together our response” on the subject.

“I just want the people of Alabama to know there is nothing there, there is nothing illegal there, there is nothing that’s ever been done that would affect the people of Alabama and affect my job,” he said.

The Alabama Constitution sets out a broad range of offenses for the impeachment of constitutional officers, including “willful neglect of duty, corruption in office, incompetency, intemperance in the use of intoxicating liquors or narcotics  . . . as unfits the officer for the discharge of such duties, or for any offense involving moral turpitude.”

The Constitution is less clear on how impeachment proceedings would proceed, nor does it provide a margin to convict an impeached official by the state Senate.

Leadership in both chambers have avoided comment on Bentley’s problems. House Speaker Mike Hubbard, R-Auburn, declined comment on Henry’s move Wednesday, saying he had not seen the proposal.