The editorial board of a major Alabama news site that has closely tracked the affair allegations swirling around Gov. Robert Bentley (R) called for him to resign on Thursday.
“With rumored investigations by state and federal authorities, as well as the intent of the House to investigate impeachable offenses, Alabamians can no longer afford Bentley’s distracting presence,” the board wrote in an editorial. “His personal actions have turned the state into a circus—and the laughing audience is not just here, but across America, even overseas.”
The board was unimpressed with the “forgiveness tour” Bentley has conducted in the two weeks since the story of his “inappropriate” relationship with a former top aide broke open.
“Bentley said Monday, again, that what he repents and seeks forgiveness for — a phone sex recording between him and his top aide — is long in the past, and he has moved on,” the board wrote. “Well, it isn’t, sir. And you can’t. Not this way.”
On the day Bentley fired him in late March, the former head of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency announced that he had evidence of the governor’s long-rumored relationship with his former chief adviser, Rebekah Mason. Bentley then apologized publicly for “whatever has been reported,” maintaining that he and Mason never engaged in “sexual activity.”
State officials were unmoved. The state auditor prompted the Ethics Commission to launch an investigation into why Mason, who has since resigned, was paid by an outside lobby group instead of by the state. State Rep. Ed Henry (R) initiated impeachment proceedings against Bentley, accusing him of doing “nothing but lie and deceive the people of Alabama.”
Alabama residents also launched two Change.org petitions calling for Bentley to step down from office.
Bentley, meanwhile, argues that the allegations against him are overblown and insists he has “no intentions of resigning.”
Well, Mark Sanford already blazed this (Appalachian) trail, for southern governors in a sex scandal–deny, disappear, resign, run for Congress.
B-b-but it’s so hard to pull out without finishing…your t-t-t-term…
Self-professed ultra-Christian, evangelical, marriage-is-the-bestest-thing-in-the-world, rightwing politician is caught messing with another woman’s younger private parts on company time? Ho-hum. Another dog-bites-man story. This has seemingly become the rule and not the exception. Our outrage has waned. Somebody needs to spend more time with his/her family, unless that was the cause of all of this frewfraw in the first place.
He’s already sought God’s forgiveness and has been forgiven. Why are you people persecuting him???
But he’s the GUV! The rules don’t apply to him–silly editorial board.