Alabama’s newest Governor is settling into office. Republican Kay Ivey became Alabama’s second female Governor after Robert Bentley resigned over an alleged sex scandal. His departure marks the end of a trio of legal tangles involving some of the most powerful people in the state. APR’s Pat Duggins has more on the national coverage that went along with it. …
If Alabama has to attract national attention, this probably isn’t what the legislature had in mind…
“For now, let’s move onto to what’s going on in Alabama,” said John Oliver a year ago. He’s host of the satirical news show This Week Tonight on HBO. “…a state whose flag is the universal symbol of ‘no! absolutely not! Under no circumstances…”
He spent three and a half minutes lampooning House Speaker Mike Hubbard, State Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore, and Governor Bentley and those infamous recordings with top aide Rebekah Caldwell Mason…
“He says that like an eighth grader trying to convince the boy’s locker room like he’s had sex.”
“I’m truly sorry, and I accept responsible,” said Bentley last year. “I want everyone to know though that I have never had a physical affair with Mrs. Mason.”
“I don’t believe him.”
That’s Republican State House member Ed Henry of Hartselle. These comments are from a year ago, when he led the charge to throw Bentley out of office…
“One of the articles we can impeach him on is incompetence To stand before an industry that we’re trying to recruit into this state and say what the state of Alabama means and how we’re going to be here, and supportive of their business…it’s not believable.”
To have one top state leader embroiled in this kind of scandal could be considered bad enough. At that time, Alabama had three. Back to John Oliver…
“This impeachment process alone shows how bad things are in Alabama politics,” said Oliver last year. “Because under the State constitution, the articles of impeachment have to be presented by the Speaker of the House, in this case, Mike Hubbard, who’s awaiting trial on twenty three felony charges.”
And that played out in the press as well last year.
A jury in Lee County convicted Hubbard on twelve of those charges. The list included voting on legislature that constituted a conflict of interest, lobbying the Governor’s office to help one paying client, and lobbying the State Commerce Department to help another.
“Absolutely, this is probably the first time in recent history that someone at this level has been prosecuted. For that reason, I think it makes a statement," said W. Van Davis. He was the prosecutor in Hubbard’s case… “This verdict vindicates us in all the allegations made in this case…”
John Oliver’s segment on Alabama aired in April of last year. Hubbard was convicted in June. His legal team is appealing with legal briefs due before the court later this month. And things, it didn’t end there. Here’s John Oliver’s final point on Bentley’s possible impeachment…
“And the whole thing will be presided over by the Chief Justice, who was once removed from office for ethics violations,” said Oliver last year. “This is either a grave insult to the state of Alabama, or the most ‘Alabama’ thing that state has ever done.”
Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore was charged with urging county probate judges to ignore the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision legalizing same sex marriage.
“This is the first time you’ve seen this many equality groups have come together,” said Drag queen and civil liberties activist Ambrosia Starling. She was among those showing their opposition to Moore’s alleged position on same sex marriage. “Normally you see one or two. But, there must have been somewhere between seven and nine equality organizations that all joined forces today, to be sure that the LGBT community was fairly represented on the day of the trial,” said Starling.
Moore was suspended from the state’s highest court for the remainder of his term. He’s appealing as well. Then, there was this that happened on Monday…
“I have spoken to Lieutenant Governor Ivey,” said Governor Bentley. “And we have agreed that the people of our state need and deserve a positive and peaceful transition of power. I will be leaving the office today, April the tenth.”
Outgoing Governor Robert Bentley’s resignation was followed less than an hour later by Kay Ivey’s swearing in as only the second woman to be Alabama’s Governor…
“I ask for your help, your patience,” said Governor Ivey. “As together, we steady this ship of state and improve Alabama’s image.”
So for now, the high profile legal scandals are over. As for Robert Bentley, he’s banned from holding office, but he plans to pursue some kind of public work. According to his plea deal, that will start with one hundred hours of community service.
