A Republican Alabama state representative introduced articles of impeachment Tuesday to remove Gov. Robert Bentley from office for his alleged involvement with a former top aide.
Rep. Ed Henry accused Bentley of moral turpitude, willful neglect of duty, corruption and incompetence. It appears to be the first time in state history a lawmaker has attempted to impeach a sitting governor.
“We are 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 during a press conference Tuesday.
The governor publicly admitted last month that he had engaged in inappropriate conversations with his senior political adviser, Rebekah Caldwell Mason. The lobbyist has since resigned, but the scandal has continued to receive national attention.
“Today’s press conference is nothing more than political grandstanding intended to grab headlines and take the focus away from the important issues the Legislature still has to address before the end of the session,” Bentley said in a statement.
There are only 11 days left in the state’s current session and Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh said he doesn’t see the articles making their way through the chamber.
“I’m not in the mood to impeach someone over personal issues. Unless someone can show us a reason, that someone has misused their office or misused tax dollars, and I haven’t seen that,” said Del Marsh.
