MONTGOMERY – On Friday, March 25, State Auditor Jim Zeigler filed a formal ethics complaint against Gov. Robert Bentley and his Senior Political Advisor Rebekah Caldwell Mason. The report to the Alabama Ethics Commission will initiate a formal legal investigation into the alleged misuse of state property, as well as the legality of Mason’s status as a public official or lobbyist.
In Zeigler’s complaint, addressed to Honorable Thomas B. Albritton, the executive director of the Alabama Ethics Commission, Zeigler stated, “It has come to my attention, in my official capacity as State Auditor, that Governor Robert Bentley and his ‘Senior Political Advisor,’ Rebekah Caldwell Mason, have violated the Alabama Ethics Law.
Ziegler laid out his claims in four points.
First, that “Mason has been receiving funds from a nongovernmental entity, the Alabama Council for Excellent Government, with the understanding that she acts in furtherance of that entity's agenda.”
Second, Zeigler said, “it is apparent that Mrs. Mason and Governor Bentley have been using State property and resources in furtherance of their personal relationship. The physical and personal nature of the relationship is made clear by well-publicized audiotape in which Bentley speaks about groping Mrs. Mason's breasts and locking the door while engaging in physical activity. That it occurred on state property is demonstrated by the fact that Bentley referred to moving ‘Wanda's desk’ down the hall.”
Third, “based on her activities in influencing state government, while being paid by a private entity, Mrs. Mason was required to register as a lobbyist and file disclosures pursuant to Alabama Code sections 36-25-1 et seq. She has failed to do so, and still has not registered as a lobbyist to this day. Either Mrs. Mason is a lobbyist or she is a government official. If she is lobbyist, she has violated the law by failing to register and file reports. If she is government official, she has violated the law by improperly receiving private funds.”
Lastly, said Zeigler, “Governor Bentley and Mrs. Mason have used their position to interfere with an Attorney General investigation or to improperly influence testimony in an Attorney General investigation.”
To read Zeigler’s full letter and report, visit https://localtvwhnt.files.wordpress.com/2016/03/zeigler-report-to-the-alabama-ethics-commission.pdf.
This comes on the heels of a tumultuous few days in Montgomery. On Wednesday, March 23, dismissed ALEA Secretary Spencer Collier held a press conference in which he spoke about Bentley's alleged affair with Mason. Collier said that Mason “has so much influence over Bentley that she is the 'de facto governor' of the state.”
Bentley fired back that same afternoon, holding a conference of his own where he denied having a physical relationship with Mason, but didn't deny being in love with her.
On March 21, Zeigler released a statement about a bill that had been “quietly introduced” to allow Bentley to appoint the state’s auditor and ag commissioner. As CullmanSense reported then, “a bill that would stop voters from electing the state auditor, as well as the state agriculture commissioner, and instead give the power to appoint both to the governor, has been introduced into the Alabama House of Representatives. HB432, sponsored by Rep. Paul Beckman, R- Prattville, had its first reading March 17. It was referred to the Constitution, Campaign and Elections Committee.”
To read the full article, see http://cullmansense.com/articles/2016/03/21/bill-quietly-introduced-allow-governor-appoint-state-auditor-ag-commissioner.
