Alabama state Rep. Ed Henry (R) said Tuesday he was filing articles of impeachment later in the day to remove Gov. Robert Bentley (R) from office amid allegations that he was involved in an affair with his top aide.
Henry announced his intentions to file the resolution last week.
“We’re looking at this governor who has essentially betrayed the trust of the people of Alabama through actions and lies that have caused us to have some doubt in his leadership,” Henry said in a news conference. “If he truly loves the people of this state, he’ll step down.”
Bentley’s chief adviser, Rebekah Mason, announced her resignation last week, saying she wanted to focus on her family. Her resignation came after a state official fired by Bentley came forward with what he said was evidence that the governor and Mason engaged in a long-rumored affair.
Bentley responded to those allegations in a bizarre news conference where he insisted he did not have a physical relationship with Mason. But the governor did apologize for “the things that I said” to Mason that were reported in the press, calling those statements “inappropriate.”
The governor said Monday that he had asked God for forgiveness and gave “no signs” he intended to resign, according to MSNBC.
“I’ve asked God to forgive me because that’s the most important thing,” Bentley reportedly said. “I want back in His fellowship. And so I asked God to forgive me.”
Henry has said that if his resolution passes the House, it would go to the Senate for a vote. If it passes there, the governor would be impeached.
“I’ve asked God to forgive me because that’s the most important thing,” Bentley reportedly said. “I want back in His fellowship. And so I asked God to forgive me.”
Is it illegal for the governor to have an affair in Alabama? Has it ever happened before? If so, did impeachment follow?
Just curious as to the grounds for impeachment here.
Does the state have breasts he can touch and a behind he can rub?
So, in retrospect, buying burner phones on the public dime… not one of his better ideas?
I’m wondering the same thing.
Don’t get me wrong, this guy disgusts me. He runs on a traditional family values platform and then cheats on his wife with a subordinate? Normally I say leave people alone. As long as they aren’t misusing public funds or their positions, then I don’t care who you sleep with. But in this case I think it’s kind of fair game as when you run as a traditional family values Christian, and you have an affair, it makes you a hypocrite and a liar. I don’t know. This one kind of pulls me in both directions from the “he’s a hypocrite he deserves it and people should know” to my “laissez faire social libertarian” side.
But, notwithstanding all that, shouldn’t it be left to the voters to decide? Since when is creating a scandal an impeachable offense? What if a politician sends a racy/nude photo to a significant other and it leaks? That’s scandalous and creates a distraction, but it’s not hypocritical. Should they be subject to impeachment?