An Alabama Republican legislator said Wednesday that he planned to propose a resolution to impeach Gov. Robert Bentley amid allegations that he had an affair with his top aide, local TV station WTVM reported.
State Rep. Ed Henry told the TV station that he hoped to have the resolution calling for Bentley’s impeachment prepared for when lawmakers return to the statehouse Tuesday.
“From the beginning of his second term he has done nothing but lie and deceive the people of Alabama and now we are seeing basically the fruits of that,” Henry told the WTVM. “If we are going to do anything for the next two years as far as economic development, bringing in industry, being effective if you will, we will have to do it without Robert Bentley as the governor.”
Bentley’s chief adviser, Rebekah Mason, announced her resignation earlier Wednesday, saying she wanted to focus on her family.
Last week, a state official fired by Bentley had come forward with what he said was evidence that the governor and Mason did engage in a long-rumored affair.
Bentley later said in a bizarre news conference that he did not have a physical relationship with Mason. But the governor did apologize for “the things that I said” that were reported in the press, calling those statements “inappropriate.”
Henry 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.
