“We’ve never done this before”, says Representative Ed Henry, “we’ve never tried to impeach a governor…it’s going to be a process, but the process starts today”. The resolution will likely be sent to the House Rules Committee for consideration.
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Gov. Robert Bentley, also a Republican, in a statement called the move “political grandstanding” meant to distract the state from pressing issues.
Henry says Bentley betrayed the trust of the people of Alabama.
Henry was not specific about the articles of impeachment which include willful neglect of duty, corruption, incompetency, and offenses of moral turpitude.
Bentley lashed out at the effort Tuesday, saying he would vigorously defend himself. McCutcheon says he doubted the process would be complete before the legislative session ends next month.
Discussions about their relationship have dominated Alabama politics since March 23 when Bentley was publicly accused of having an affair by Spencer Collier, the former head of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, just after he was sacked by the governor.
Whether or not Bentley had an affair, many Alabamians are angry about what appears to be subterfuge coming from a politician who campaigned as an honest, principled conservative.
Alabama’s Constitution allows for impeachment of constitutional officers for a broad range of actions, not all of them illegal.
Herbert Bell says, “I don’t know what happened, but if he did what they say he did, then he should be impeached”.
“I do not see this body raising taxes or raiding education”, said Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh, R-Anniston, said as he called for the override vote.
Republican Rep. Jack Williams said Tuesday that he can’t support an impeachment process “wrought with stoked-up emotion”.
“Business of state continues to go-we are organized -that’s a good thing that our laws and processes are in place and the state’s fixing to do its business here in the Senate and there in the House”, Ivey said.
“It’s the wrong day and the wrong way”, Williams said.
Some Alabama lawmakers quickly dismissed the impeachment effort. He told reporters today he expects the committee to vote to set up a committee to look into the allegations before voting on Henry’s resolution for impeachment.
“There is a crisis of confidence”, said State Rep. Mike Ball, chairman of the House Ethics Committee. Recordings obtained by The Associated Press purportedly show the governor before his divorce professing love to someone named Rebecca or Rebekah and telling her how much he enjoyed kissing her and touching her breasts.
“Robert Bentley has said time and time again, publicly, how much he loves the people of Alabama”.
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Audio recordings from 2014 surfaced last month of a sexually explicit conversation reportedly between Bentley and one of his former aides, Rebekah Mason. Questions have arisen about how Mason, who has not been on the state payroll since 2013, was paid.
