Alabama Governor Faces Impeachment Over Sex Scandal Accusations

Alabama lawmakers will try to impeach Republican Gov. Robert Bentley over accusations that he had an affair with a former employee.

Republican State Rep. Ed Henry announced at a news conference Tuesday that he has filed articles of impeachment against the state’s governor for many reasons, including neglect of duty, corruption in office and incompetency, the Wall Street Journal reports. “We’re looking at this governor who has essentially betrayed the trust of the people of Alabama,” Henry said. “The only recourse the people of Alabama have to address this issue is through the impeachment process.”

Bentley, who called the resolution “nothing more than political grandstanding,” has come under fire after allegations surfaced of his alleged relationship with his former chief adviser, Rebekah Caldwell Mason. The accusations came from the former head of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, who was fired by the governor for alleged wrongdoing, according to the Journal.

“There are no grounds for impeachment, and I will vigorously defend myself and my administration from this political attack,” the 73-year-old governor said in a statement.

[WSJ]