Feds question Spencer Collier in Robert Bentley scandal
The former law enforcement chief who accused Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley of having an affair with an adviser has been questioned by federal investigators about the governor’s administration, the official’s attorney said Wednesday. Kenny Mendelsohn, who represents former state law enforcement secretary Spencer Collier, would not elaborate on what questions investigators asked. A person close to the administration who also was questioned told The Associated Press FBI agents asked about the use of state grants and other resources. The person spoke on condition of anonymity, fearing retribution. The revelations are the latest sign of trouble for Bentley, who has been the subject of an impeachment push since he admitted making inappropriate comments to the former aide, Rebekah Caldwell Mason. He has denied having an affair with her. A spokeswoman for the governor declined to comment. The AP obtained a letter written by an aide to U.S. Attorney George Beck in Montgomery saying Beck has stepped aside from any possible investigation or prosecution involving the governor’s office. The subject line on the letter, dated last week, states: “Re: Grand Jury Investigation.” However, it is not clear if a grand jury has been empaneled, which could be a sign of a deepening investigation. Beck said Justice Department officials in Washington decided to remove the case from his office, and he is unsure of its status since then. “The office of general counsel makes those decisions when they think it’s in the best interest of the public that if a U.S. attorney’s office is too close to a situation then it’s best to recuse that U.S. attorney us and the entire office,” he said. FBI Director James Comey, in Birmingham for an event about civil rights, declined comment on any federal probe involving Bentley. The impeachment effort began after Collier, the former head of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency fired by Bentley, accused his former boss and friend of having an affair with a staffer and of interfering with law enforcement business. Bentley acknowledged making inappropriate remarks to Mason but denied the other accusations. However, audio recordings obtained by the AP purportedly captured the governor — before his wife of 50 years divorced him last year – telling a woman he loved her and enjoyed kissing and fondling her. Collier has since sued Bentley for wrongful termination, accusing Bentley of firing him because the two disagreed over a request to file an affidavit saying investigators found no evidence of misconduct by prosecutors in the ethics case against House Speaker Mike Hubbard, who is now on trial in Lee County. Collier said he wanted to file the affidavit, but the governor didn’t want him to. Collier said that Bentley asked him to lie to prosecutors, and that he was unwilling to do that. Bentley asked a judge to throw out the lawsuit earlier this week. — Associated Press writers Kim Chandler in Opelika, Alabama, and Phillip Lucas in Birmingham contributed to this report. Republished with the permission of The Associated Press
Robert Bentley defends use of private email account
Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley told reporters Thursday his use of a nonstate private email account, as reported by AL.com, is subject to public records requests, defending the practice. “Why use a private email account for public business and, if you did, shouldn’t those be a public record?” a reporter asked the 2-term governor, who has recently come under investigation and possible impeachment for an alleged affair with his former senior adviser Rebekah Mason. Bentley has maintained he did nothing wrong throughout the relationship, and has said he will cooperate diligently to clear his name. The question came during a brief time with media after a military appreciation luncheon on Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery. “They are a public record and, in fact, whoever wrote the article does not know how to ask for the material. If they would ask for it properly they could get the material,” Bentley answered. “All of that is public record. All they have to do is go and ask the person who either sent the email that’s public or received an email from me, and they can get it. That’s public record. “Nothing is being hidden. Everything is open. All they have to do is access it properly.” The governor’s response is a continuation of the administration’s historical stance on the use of unofficial emails, saying if it is with another state employee it is captured on their official account, which is subject to public record. “The Governor’s Office takes its archival responsibility seriously — both from a legacy perspective and a legal perspective,” said Bentley’s director of communications Jennifer Ardis. “As files are closed and matters concluded, these are archived on a rolling basis in accordance with the Governor’s Office Records Retention and Archiving Policy.” AL.com’s original investigation into the governor’s use of personal email accounts to conduct state business, including alleging emails between Bentley and Mason, resulted in what amounted to a closed door, with the governor’s office saying, “This request is not subject to the Alabama Open Records Act to the extent the request is for email communications conducted on personal accounts.” But for investigative reporters fishing for communications between Bentley and Mason, this too could present a problem, as Mason hasn’t been a state employee since 2014.
Survey: Robert Bentley’s approval ratings steady at 46 percent; 45 percent disapprove
Embattled Gov. Robert Bentley may be political dead meat according to his most ardent foes in Montgomery, but a new poll out Thursday shows voters are split on the issue. Bentley’s approval rating, 46 percent, actually slightly surpassed his disapproval rating. 45 percent of Alabama voters, meanwhile, said they disapprove of the governor. The firm responsible for the new data, Morning Consult, speculated one reason voters’ opinions lagged behind conventional statehouse wisdom was that the allegations were that Bentley made “inappropriate” remarks to a former staffer and adviser only emerged recently. “In Bentley’s case, news about his possible impeachment is recent, which may explain why he has yet to be affected,” read a release from the group. News of the Bentley administration scandal broke in early April. Despite lumbering through an ongoing political scandal that has rocked Montgomery and let several high-ranking officials wondering aloud about impeachment proceedings, Bentley’s approval ratings are actually higher than several of his gubernatorial counterparts. Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback topped the list of opinion losers in the survey, with some 65 percent of respondents saying they disapprove of the governor. Critics of the Republican governor say his experiment in fiscal conservatism — including slashing taxes and social spending — have tanked the state’s economy. Number two on the list was Connecticut Democrat Gov. Dan Malloy, who has suffered due to discontent with his handling of the state budget and a weak state economy. 64 percent disapproved of his performance. Republican Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder rounded out the top three, the only other governor who topped a 60 percent disapproval rating, amid the infamous Flint, MI water crisis which has seen a national furor over deal poisoning in the city’s drinking water supply.
Robert Bentley weighs possibility of legislative special session
Alabama Governor Robert Bentley hinted at the possibility of a Special Session of the State Legislature to make up a shortfall in the state’s Medicaid funding, which fell short of the agency’s requested budget by $85 million. “I have not made a decision on that yet. I met yesterday with my commissioner for Medicaid. You know, there’s some real problems there,” said the governor during a visit to Birmingham Wednesday, adding he has several months left to make his decision. Depending on the breadth of the governor’s call for the special session, any number of measures that were shot down in the Regular Session could be back on the table. Among the issues mentioned by Bentley were the $640 million BP oil spill settlement compromise and a $800 million prison construction bill. The governor, who has been mostly avoiding questions from the media in the last several weeks, also took the time to reiterate to reporters that he believes he has done nothing improper in his alleged relationship with former senior aide Rebekah Mason. It would be the second year in a row with a Special Session, should the governor follow through with his threat to call one. Meanwhile, a special legislative committee is currently investigating the claims made against Bentley in the articles of impeachment filed during the legislative session. Impeachment of the Governor is one of the few mechanisms through which the Legislature can call itself into session. Should that happen, and the House pass the articles of impeachment, there is some question on how to adjudicate the issue in the Alabama Senate. Under normal circumstances, the hearings would be presided over by the chief justice of the state’s Supreme Court, but Chief Justice Roy Moore was suspended this week by the Alabama Judiciary Inquiry Commission for his attempts to block gay marriage following the U.S. Supreme Court ruling.
Jim Zeigler blasts Robert Bentley for invoking Bible in op-ed
State Auditor Jim Zeigler — he of multitudes of jabs at the governor — was back at it again Monday. Zeigler slammed embattled Gov. Robert Bentley for citing Holy Scripture in a recent editorial he wrote in favor of prison reform favored by his administration and his allies in the Legislature. Bentley declared in the memo he “does not intend to be a caretaker governor,” saying he will take bold actions to ensure a reform of Alabama’s ailing prison system is modernized and accountability is enacted. Borrowing a line from the Book of Proverbs, Bentley reminded readers: “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” Zeigler took umbrage that Bentley — currently under investigation by state authorities for making “inappropriate” comments allegedly of a sexual nature to a former staffer, who has since been fired — would invoke the Good Book to make a political point. “I wish he would read the verses about: Confession. Repentance,” Zeigler said in a memo released Monday. “Be sure your sins will find you out. What God has joined together, let no man put asunder. He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much. Thou shalt not covet,” continued Zeigler. The comments left no doubt he was criticizing Bentley’s invocation on grounds of the governor’s personal peccadillos. The long and winding saga of Zeigler vs. Bentley is still very much ongoing. Bentley recently threw his weight behind legislation that would give the governor’s office authority to appoint — or, in this case, un-appoint — both the Commissioner of Agriculture and the State Auditor, the unique ombudsman-like Cabinet post Zeigler occupies. Zeigler, for his part, has proposed creating a “executive recall” mechanism that would allow 10 percent of registered Alabama voters oust the governor and hold a special election to replace him or her. Zeigler will also continue his public relations campaign against Bentley on a conservative Huntsville talk radio program Monday evening.
Robert Bentley facing impeachment push: ‘I’ve done nothing wrong’
Embattled Gov. Robert Bentley on Friday maintained he has done nothing wrong, just a day after Alabama lawmakers revived an impeachment effort against him. At a press conference in his office, Bentley initially tried to side step impeachment questions but relented when pressed, imploring Alabamians to trust him. “I’ve done nothing – absolutely nothing – that is illegal or unethical,” Bentley said. Bentley faces accusations of corruption and willful neglect of duty a month after he acknowledged making inappropriate remarks to a female political adviser, but the governor says Alabamians shouldn’t worry about the possibility of impeachment. “Distractions that come around us all the time, that is not going to keep me from carrying out the purpose that I believe God put me here to do,” Bentley said. “That’s to do this job well and to do it in a way that glorifies Him but also to do it in a way that it helps the people of this state.” The governor said the past year has been difficult, but he hasn’t “neglected” his duty as governor. “I don’t want difficult times to come my way, but I have to rise above those difficult times,” Bentley said. “How can they make me stronger? Because I’m not going to give up.” A push for an investigation faltered Tuesday in the House of Representatives, but the effort was reignited Thursday when 23 lawmakers signed off on new articles of impeachment. The articles will trigger a House Judiciary Committee to probe whether there are grounds for impeachment, though it’s unclear how quickly that inquiry will proceed. “Governor Bentley has overstepped his bounds and needs to be removed from office,” said Rep. Ed Henry on Thursday. The push by some for impeachment comes after former Alabama Law Enforcement Secretary Spencer Collier accused the governor of an affair and of interfering with law enforcement investigations. Collier made the allegation a day after being fired by Bentley. Collier last week sued Bentley, Rebekah Mason and the current ALEA for defamation and wrongful termination. Bentley acknowledged making inappropriate remarks to Mason but denies an affair or misuse of office. Recordings obtained by The Associated Press purportedly show the governor – before his 2015 divorce – professing love to someone and telling her how much he enjoyed kissing her and touching her breasts, and referencing a need to start locking his office door. The former First Lady, Dianne Bentley, filed for divorce in August 2015 after 50 years of marriage. Republished with the permission of the Associated Press
Jim Zeigler hoping for public showdown with Robert Bentley over ethics violations
On May 2, State Auditor Jim Zeigler “will be in my office at 10 a.m. with a court reporter, and a Bible to swear in the Governor.” Zeigler plans to grill Gov. Robert Bentley about accusations the governor misused public resources during an affair with a former adviser, the recently dismissed Rebekah Mason. On Monday Zeigler upped the stakes yet again, saying state law allows — indeed requires — the entire State Auditor’s probe to be open to the press and the public. Zeigler initially announced he would take Bentley’s testimony behind closed doors, presumably to spare the governor a modicum of disgrace. But after conducting some legal research, Zeigler said, the investigation is subject to open-government laws and must be done in full view of the public. “It is the public’s business, and we will allow news media and citizens to attend,” said Zeigler. Bentley, for his part, does not appear likely to show up. The governor has mostly ignored Zeigler’s request for an appearance in his office at the Capitol, though he did issue the following: “The appropriate legal process is through the Alabama Ethics Commission where the Auditor has already filed a complaint, and we are fully cooperating in every way,” said Bentley. “I do not intend to respond further to Mr. Zeigler.” The standoff is the latest in a series of jousting matches between the two fellow Republican members of the state’s executive branch. Bentley is supporting a bill this Legislative Session that would grant the governor power to appoint the State Auditor, revoking the office’s status as an elected position. Zeigler, in turn, has proposed an “executive recall” mechanism that would allow for Bentley to be removed from office via a petition signed by 10 percent of registered voters. In the meantime, Zeigler’s May 2 deadline hangs over the Zeigler-Bentley feud like the sword of Damocles. Zeigler says Code of Alabama statute, 36-16-2, authorizes his office to require just the kind of inquest into Bentley he is seeking. It reads: “The Auditor has authority to require information on oath, to be administered by him, from any person touching any claim or account he is required to audit.” While that seems to leave little room for interpretation, Bentley remains highly unlikely to fulfill Zeigler’s request to appear. Zeigler says he is looking into options regarding enforcement, and will pursue punitive measures should Bentley defy his order. “We will take action after May 2 if the order is not complied with. Since I set the May 2 date and time for compliance, I cannot do anything until that time has passed,” said Zeigler.
Just when you thought the Mason-Bentley scandal couldn’t get worse, it does
Watching the implosion around the Rebekah Mason – Robert Bentley scandal, one can’t help but think every time there’s another development, “How much worse could this get?” Because, inevitably, it does get worse. This doesn’t even refer to the relationship itself, which short of crimes being committed, is between the individuals, their families and their God. I’m talking about the horrible bumbling and fumbling of the facts and scandal itself. Mason’s husband, Jon Mason, wrote in a statement posted to his Facebook page on March 28, “I wanted to share that I long ago resolved the personal issue playing out now for everyone this week. Please continue to support families, the governor, and our state with prayers as we all move forward.” The audio recordings of Bentley speaking to Mason, much to the dismay of those who heard or read the transcripts, left little question that they had more than an emotional affair. A few too many references to touching, kissing, holding, etc. for it to be a platonic situation. Here’s my thoughts on the Top 5 public relations/crisis communication mistakes, in no particular order because they’re just all that bad: Not getting ahead of the scandal: With the known existence of audio tapes (that were two years old), ongoing rumors, and the number of individuals with first-hand knowledge, it would seem that the Governor and Mason had plenty of time to formulate a plan for when (not if) the relationship came to light. Only the parties involved know when it started though the Governor says he’s loved her for years in one of the audio recordings exclusively provided to YH News. Mason’s employment: I can’t for the life of me understand why Mason did not resign before the story broke and insisted on continuing to travel with the Governor one-on-one after the initial allegations surfaced during the Bentley divorce. The latest news broke this week, by the Montgomery Advertiser, that the Governor took Mason to a White House dinner in February of this year. This would be after his divorce, after her husband knew about the “inappropriate relationship.” When she finally did resign her statement was spot on leaving the question why didn’t she just do that sooner? The Governor’s press conference: I thought the Anthony Wiener press conference or maybe the Mark Sanford press conference would go down as the worst in political history in terms of unprepared, not well thought out statements but then Bentley opened his mouth. Where he made multiple statements that still boggle the mind such as, “I accept full responsibility. I want everyone to know though that I have never had a physical affair with Mrs. Mason.” (Despite describing touching her on the recorded call.) He went on to explain what he was apologizing for, “I’m apologizing for the things that I’ve said.” Umm. What? My favorite statement of the whole thing, “I love many members members of my staff. In fact all of the members of my staff…do I love …some more than others, absolutely.” Mason’s horrible statement: Following the Governor’s train wreck of a press conference, which you can watch below. Mason sent out a horrible, horrible statement citing gender bias as the reason for the reason she was being targeted. I planned to write a post about at that time but Katherine Robertson, from API beat me to it and nailed it. Robertson said, “Knowing the evidence that was now available to the public, Mrs. Mason did not deny anything, but in a desperate diversion, tried to claim that her gender was to blame for her present predicament.” She went on to say, “The statement released yesterday will not be soon forgotten by women who have actually struggled with inequitable treatment in their professions. Rather than expressing remorse, which the public would likely sympathize with, Mrs. Mason chose to cry wolf and play the gender card. As a result, whatever gender bias previously existed in Montgomery has just been dialed up a notch.” Because Mason called gender bias so early on and so haphazardly she couldn’t even point to it when it was occurring, as it just did with the misleading headline about her attending a concert with other staffers in Vegas. Denying the nature of the relationship: This one is the strangest. The Governor apologized for what was recorded. Mason dodged the relationship discussions all together. The recording and witness statements are pretty convincing yet there’s still an effort to stonewall. During the press conference the Governor as asked directly if his relationship with Mason was romantic and he ignored the question. It makes no sense to give a half apology. To accept responsibility for talking about physical acts but not the acts themselves. Rather than saying “I’m not going to address specifics of the relationship.” why say “There was no physical” relationship? I’m reminded of the old saying “The first rule of thumb when you find yourself in a hole is stop digging.” Bentley and Mason just keep digging and it’s made this story go from one news cycle to the next and next and next. It has reporters and bloggers alike on a hunt to unearth additional evidence and information to supplement what’s been said so far. There are currently a number of things happening surrounding this situation from impeachment discussions to recall laws being considered. I don’t expect the news to stop covering every little detail that is discovered. I don’t believe the calls for resignation will stop growing. I’m just hoping that the Governor and Mrs. Mason can get all their ducks in a row and facilitate this side show ending ASAP. Here you can find a list of those who have called on the Governor to resign so far. Video via KRG News 5:
Lawmaker’s wife reminisces about Dianne Bentley
Muriel Farley, the wife of Republican Rep. Allen Farley, did some soul searching over the weekend. Farley published a blog post over the weekend waxing nostalgic — and expressing some regret — about her relationship with former Alabama First Lady Dianne Bentley, who has faded from the headlines some eight months after her divorce from embattled Gov. Robert Bentley. Rep. Farley, a longtime friend of Bentley’s, had personally been lied to by the governor after rumors of his affair with former staffer Rebekah Mason began to circulate. When more allegations came to light about the governor, media outlets once again started contacting my husband for an interview. Not only were they asking about the letter to [Attorney General Luther Strange], but now they were also very interested in a telephone call Allen received the night of August 31, 2015 from the governor. You see, when the governor called my husband, the world had not heard the audio sext tapes. And, during the governor’s telephone conversation with Allen, he told my husband he had not been involved in an affair and he didn’t believe Allen needed to get Luther involved in it personally. That political impropriety on the governor’s behalf unduly damaged her warm personal relationship with the First Lady, Farley wrote. During an interview with GQ Magazine about the scandal: I explained that Dianne would invite members of the Legislative Spouse’s Club to a monthly bible study along with other lady friends from Tuscaloosa and around Alabama. (I also mentioned that I considered Dianne Bentley my friend.) Jason asked me if I had reached out to my friend Dianne Bentley during this devastating time. I said no. (I actually hung my head in shame and said no.) This stayed on my mind the rest of the day. How could I have not contacted my friend. This lady who lead me in prayer month after month. The sweet grandmother (our First Lady) who would walk the halls of the State House bringing her granddaughter to page, as I had also done with two of our granddaughters and a grandson. Sitting in the gallery of the Alabama State House last Thursday, I asked my friend Danna Standridge if she had reached out to our friend Dianne Bentley. (Danna is the wife of Rep. David Standridge.) She is also a member of the Alabama Legislative Spouse’s Club. She said no, but she wanted to. I believe she and I both just didn’t know how or what to say. We were both hurting. But, we decided right there we were going to find out how to contact our friend, and we did. The two gave Dianne Bentley a call and spoke with her from Montgomery, which Farley said was cathartic, but did not fully assuage her guilt over abandoning her erstwhile friend. Despite more bad faith by the governor, Farley writes, she should have been there for her fellow political spouse. Toward the end of our 2014 Legislative Session my husband had a private meeting with Governor Bentley. Allen soon began to understand that the man he had reached out to as a fellow Christian and friend was not who he had believed him to be. And, within a few weeks, Allen’s private meeting with the governor was being absolutely misrepresented on a weekly political talk show. That did it for Allen, he stepped back from the governor he once trusted. Something was definitely different inside the governor’s office and my husband did not want anything to do with someone he knew he could not trust. I know, that is no excuse for me to stop attending Dianne’s bible studies. But, I saw how Governor Robert Bentley had hurt my husband, and I did not want to be in a position to see him and have to pretend everything was alright. However, knowing what I know now, I should have been there. Maybe, just maybe, I could have picked up on something different about her and been there to help. Maybe, just maybe, her eyes didn’t glitter like they had in previous years. Maybe, just maybe, she needed a shoulder to lean on. So, I now regret my poor decision. Farley concludes, simply: “Dianne Bentley, I want you to know that we are in your corner. We are on your side.”
Former top cop files suit against Robert Bentley, Rebekah Mason
Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley‘s former law enforcement secretary sued his former boss Tuesday, claiming he was wrongly fired. Spencer Collier, who the day after his firing accused Bentley of having an affair with an adviser, says in the lawsuit filed in Montgomery that Bentley and the adviser, Rebekah Mason, made misleading statements to the media to try to discredit him. “Their lies have hurt me financially, have severely damaged my reputation and they have made it their mission to permanently end my career in law enforcement,” Collier said in a statement. Jennifer Ardis, a spokeswoman for Bentley, said the governor’s office had not seen the lawsuit and did not have an immediate comment. Bentley has previously said Collier was fired after an internal review found a misuse of funds at the state law enforcement agency. A text message to Mason and a call to Mason’s attorney were not immediately returned. The lawsuit is the latest twist in a sordid political tale that has engulfed the 73-year-old governor in controversy. It has been punctuated by back-and-forth salvos between Bentley and Collier, who were once close friends when they served together in the Alabama House. Collier’s lawsuit accuses the governor of firing him because the two disagreed over a request to file an affidavit saying investigators found no evidence of misconduct by prosecutors in the ethics case against House Speaker Mike Hubbard. Collier said he wanted to file the affidavit, but the governor didn’t want him to. He says Bentley asked him to lie to prosecutors and that he was unwilling to do that because it would be illegal. The governor is expected to be a prosecution witness at Hubbard’s ethics trial next month. Among the charges Hubbard faces is using his public office to benefit his clients by lobbying the governor’s office. “The governor did not tell anyone including Spencer Collier not to comply with the law – just the opposite. The governor wanted everyone treated correctly and in accordance with the proper law enforcement procedures,” the governor’s spokeswoman has said in a previous statement. A day after being fired, Collier accused Bentley of having an affair with Mason. The governor later admitted making inappropriate remarks to Mason, who has since resigned, but said he did not have a “physical affair.” However, racy recordings have surfaced of Bentley making sexually charged remarks, referencing kissing and touching, to someone with the same first name. The governor’s new law enforcement secretary, Stan Stabler, said last week that it was Collier who sent a state helicopter in 2014 to fly Bentley’s forgotten wallet from his hometown in Tuscaloosa to his beach house at Fort Morgan. Collier said he never approved the flight. Bentley said he did ask state security to retrieve his wallet, but he did not know they were going to use a helicopter to do it. Republished with permission of the Associated Press.
Robert Bentley took Jon Barganier to Vegas, attended Celine Dion concert
Friday mornings are generally quiet at my house but this morning over my coffee I was greeted by a breaking news alert from AL.Com. The headline practically shouted “Smoking gun.” John Archibald had written, “Gov. Robert Bentley, Rebekah Mason flew to Vegas, attended Celine Dion show.” Wow! I clicked the article, much like I’d assume most people did, anticipating this would be news that broke the case wide open. Only a few sentences in, I realized I was duped by yet another clickbait headline where the substance of the story was a yawn-fest. This particular trip in question wasn’t simply a holiday getaway between Mason and Bentley, rather it was a trip to attend the Republican Governors Association Annual Conference. Mason wasn’t the only person to accompany the governor — two other staffers joined as well. The headline could have read, “Gov. Robert Bentley, Jon Barganier flew to Vegas, attended Celine Dion show.” Elected officials traveling with staff to conferences is not news. Now it would possibly be news if during the trip the two had a hot date to the concert, but the governor sprang for tickets for all the accompanying staff. I’m going out on a limb here, but if the governor and Mason wanted privacy and a romantic evening they probably wouldn’t have brought along Communications Director Jennifer Ardis and Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Jon Barganier. The story itself is more of the same, with former Alabama Law Enforcement Agency chief Spencer Collier delivering another riveting set of accusations that Bentley tried to shake his security detail, an accusation that the governors office denied in a statement released after the story “broke.” There’s been credible and even wowing news related to the Mason/Bentley relationship, but this particular piece along with others recently seem to be a “which publication can garner the most clicks” contest based on an otherwise personal situation. Frankly, I don’t know if the public needs any more evidence of an inappropriate relationship than what is out already there, but we certainly don’t need to make something out of nothing for the sake of web traffic. I’ve worked for a number of elected officials, most recently a member of Congress who was a dentist. While attending a dental conference in Nashville several years ago myself, my infant daughter and two other staffers went to a concert at the Ryman with the Congressman. It would be laughable to make that conference and concert into something more. Likewise, it’s laughable to make the Vegas and Celine concert into something more. As I said before, beyond the lingering questions and the need for the appropriate authorities to conduct their independent investigations to determine whether or not any laws were broken, I’m not sure how much more information the public needs to know. Regardless of the relationship she had with the governor, clearly Mason did work within the administration, was a trusted adviser, and would be included on this and other trips. Duh.
Johnny Kampis: Could scandal derail Robert Bentley’s Alabama broadband plans?
The scene has been repeated ad nauseam over the past two weeks: Gov. Robert Bentley makes a scheduled stop to discuss a new industry or an economic development plan and, instead of questions about the issue at hand, he is peppered with queries about his alleged affair with a former staffer. Take an exchange in Franklin County two weeks ago. Bentley visited to tout his plan to use federal tax dollars (with a 10 percent state match) to build a broadband network across the state, primarily to aid rural areas that have limited or no broadband access.The firestorm created by the controversy has raised questions about Bentley’s ability to lead, throwing his entire agenda into question. Bentley tried to keep a brief media exchange that followed his meeting with Franklin County leaders focused on broadband, to little avail. After saying he had no plans to resign, Bentley asked, “Who else has a question about broadband?” In response, he got, “Governor, this isn’t a question related to broadband, but …” To which Bentley tersely replied, “Let’s take broadband.” The conversation meandered more toward scandal than broadband as the questions continued, as the video below shows: Bill Stewart, professor emeritus of political science at the University of Alabama, told Watchdog.org on Monday that Bentley has gotten pushback from lawmakers in the past — see the governor’s tax increase plan in 2015, for example — but this scandal has taken the rhetoric to a new level. “I think that further weakens his position, and that’s bad for the citizens of Alabama because he can’t provide the leadership we need in order for our state to make progress,” Stewart said. Last week, both chambers of the Alabama Legislature — the House by a 71-24 vote, and the Senate by a 22-10 vote — chose to override Bentley’s budget veto. The governor argued the budget should include another $85 million for Medicaid. Read more. • • • Johnny Kampis is a content editor at Watchdog.org, and is helping to start the organization’s Alabama Watchdog bureau in his home state. Johnny previously worked in the newspaper industry and as a freelance writer, and has been published in The New York Times, Time.com, FoxNews.com and Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
