[Breaking news update, published at 1:48 p.m. ET]
Articles of impeachment will be introduced Tuesday against Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley, state Rep. Ed Henry told reporters.
“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 about his leadership,” Henry said.
[Original story, published at 6:54 a.m. ET]
When the Alabama Legislature convenes Tuesday afternoon, lawmakers may begin their day by trying to kick out their governor.
In a nutshell, here’s why:
Audio recordings surfaced last month of a sexually explicit conversation between Gov. Robert Bentley and one of his aides, Rebekah Mason, originally from 2014. (More on that later)
Both denied having a physical affair. Bentley and his wife divorced last year.
Bentley has apologized and maintains he did nothing illegal. He’s said he won’t resign.
But he has an uphill battle ahead; state legislators and citizens from both sides of the aisle are calling for him to step down.
Republican State Rep. Ed Henry told CNN affiliate WAFF he’ll carry articles of impeachment against the governor.
“From the beginning of his second term (Bentley was re-elected in 2014), he has done nothing but lie and deceive the people of Alabama,” Henry said.
Whether or not he had an affair, many Alabamians are just angry about what appears to be subterfuge coming from a politician who campaigned as an honest, principled conservative.
An apology at a prison
During a visit to a prison Monday, Bentley took some time to issue another apology.
“I’ve asked God to forgive me, but I’ve asked other people to again forgive me,” he said. “I have truly asked the people of this state, that are the most loving and the best people in the world, I have asked them to forgive me.”
Total (U.S.) recall
For those angry Alabamians thinking, “Wisconsin and California tried to kick their governor out. Why don’t we do that?”
Well, you’re out of luck.
Nineteen states and the District of Columbia permit the recall of state officials, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
And Alabama isn’t one of them.
So legislatures would have to pass a bill allowing recall (something Bentley probably wouldn’t be too keen on signing into law at the moment) or they could impeach him. It’s not clear which route they’ll take.
For those keeping score at home, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker survived a recall effort in 2012; former California Gov. Gray Davis did not, paving the way for Arnold Schwarzenegger’s election in 2003.
In Alabama, articles of impeachment must be brought forward by the state House of Representatives, while the state Senate acts as jury. Most states follow a similar procedure, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
The backstory
Spencer Collier, the former head of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, was fired on March 22. After being ousted, Collier said he had seen text messages and heard audio recordings of “a sexual nature” between Bentley and Mason, the aide.
The tapes were made public by the Bentley family, according to AL.com, which published excerpts. AL.com reported that it was allowed to hear portions of the tapes by people close to the Bentley family.
AL.com says the tapes were made by family members as they tried to figure out whether the governor was having an affair.
On one tape, Bentley could be heard saying: “When I stand behind you, and I put my arms around you, and I put my hands on your breasts, and I put my hands (unintelligible) and just pull you real close. I love that, too.”
Mason, who is married, resigned last week.
“My only plans are to focus my full attention on my precious children and my husband who I love dearly,” she said in a statement issued by Bentley’s office. “They are the most important people in my life. Thank you for your prayers for our family.”
