Bentley admitted that he made inappropriate remarks to a top female staffer two years ago, but he denied accusations that he had a physical affair.
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Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh said he expects senators will send the budget to Bentley on Wednesday after voting to go along with House changes.
“He has told me that he is madly in love with Mason, but he’s a man of honor and will not ask her to divorce her husband”, Collier said. That same week, a family member turned in an audio recording of Mason and Bentley engaging in a sexual conversation. “I am disappointed to learn these facts, and today, I relieved Spencer Collier of his duties as ALEA Secretary”, Bentley said. Instead, critics of the governor, including Collier, say he may have committed more serious crimes by using state or campaign resources to support an affair. I have been told about the possibilities of tapes for two years.
Collier says through another member of his law enforcement team.
“I made Gov. Bentley aware of the recording that I heard”, he added.
Collier said that he did not feel Mason’s influence was appropriated since she had never been elected. Collier said Bentley and Mason were both furious with him because of his cooperation with the state attorney general’s office involving a criminal investigation. “That was untrue”, said Collier. “Governor Bentley simply hung his head and asked for advice on how to get out of it”, said Collier. Collier said he assigned an investigator whom, Collier says, quickly determined there was “no merit to the allegations”.
Collier said he warned the governor he was committing a felony if he was using state funds to cover up the affair.
Collier said four other people in his office were fired because of the affidavit, however Stabler said their positions were eliminated in a cost-saving effort.
Though the details in Bentley’s announcement this evening were scant, it came only hours after acting ALEA Secretary Stan Stabler made a similar announcement about the results of the same internal investigation. The governor terminated Collier Tuesday, citing allegations of possible misuse of state funds. I said some inappropriate things, and I know I did that. You can see the settlement from their divorce here. He also says he found out that he was being accused of misusing funds.
‘I made a mistake. “I have rectified that mistake and we have moved on”, Bentley said. As he stepped away from the podium, Bentley was asked by a reporter if he would step down. From a law enforcement standpoint I believed him that day.
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Mason did not respond to an email seeking comment Wednesday. “I can assure the people of Alabama that as their governor, I have never done anything illegal”. Inside Alabama Politics, reporting last week on large raises for members of Bentley’s inner circle, noted in a spreadsheet she last was listed as a state employee during fiscal 2013. “And I’m just asking those who have been involved including the people of this state to forgive me”. “He only said what he said about my professional abilities because I am a Woman”.
