Gov. Bentley resigns in disgrace
By Wade KwonLt. Gov. Kay Ivey becomes second female governor of Alabama
Booking page for Robert Bentley at the
Montgomery County Jail
Two-term and two-timing governor Robert Bentley was booked at the Montgomery County Jail this afternoon for campaign finance misdemeanors. He then resigned from office.
This morning, the House had begun impeachment hearings on Bentley, following the release of a committee report detailing numerous alleged incidents around the governor and an affair with his aide Rebekah Mason, one that ended his 50-year marriage to Dianne Bentley in 2015.
Among the cataloged misdeeds were bullying staff members, using the state plane for private getaways, illicit texting, ordering law enforcement officers to cover up the scandal and altering public records.
As part of a deal, Bentley pleaded guilty and was sentenced to a 30-day suspended jail sentence, 12 months probation, surrender of $36,912 in campaign funds, about $16,000 in fines and 100 hours of community service. He forfeits all retirement benefits and cannot run for public office again.
Lt. Gov. Kay Ivey, pictured above, will now finish out the term. The next gubernatorial election is in 2018.
It’s been a busy 11 months for Montgomery. In May, state Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore was removed from office for a second time. For this incident, the Alabama Court of the Judiciary suspended him for ethics code violations in regards to enforcing federal rulings on same-sex marriage.
In June, Speaker of the House Mike Hubbard was found guilty of violating state ethics rules — including ones he implemented — and later sentenced to 4 years in prison, 8 years probation and a $210,000 fine.
Tuesday, April 11, 2017, 6:50 pm
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