From Associated Press
MONTGOMERY — The House Judiciary Committee will not resume an impeachment investigation of Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley until it gets the OK from the state’s attorney general, a committee chairman said Wednesday.
The committee was investigating if Bentley committed any impeachable offenses with his relationship with a former staffer. The committee announced in November it was suspending proceedings at the request of Attorney General Luther Strange who said his office was doing “related work.” Strange has not elaborated on what that work is.
“Whenever the attorney general has reached a point that we are able to resume, we will resume,” Chairman Mike Jones said. “I’ve always said and I continue to say we are going to finish what we started. I’m just not able to say when it will be.”
Strange is also one of 20 people who have interviewed with Bentley for possible appointment to Sen. Jeff Sessions seat when Sessions is confirmed as U.S. attorney general.
Bentley also faces two related civil lawsuits and has had a complaint filed against him with the Alabama Ethics Commission
The governor said Tuesday that he has done nothing wrong and believes the probes should be winding down.
Bentley, who is halfway through his final term, loaned his campaign $50,000 in November, according to a campaign finance report filed this week. By law, the loan should have been reported within two days because it qualifies as a major contribution since it was over $20,000.
Bentley said he reported the loan after being notified by the secretary of state’s office that it should have been reported earlier. The governor said he disagreed that the loan to himself was the same as a “major contribution” from a donor, but complied with the direction.
Under state law, Alabama politicians can use campaign funds for office related expenses, including to pay legal fees for lawsuits and investigations related to their official duties. Bentley will be able to raise money to repay the campaign debt.
Bentley said his legal bills have been extensive.
The governor is expected to file his 2016 campaign summary next week.
The governor in 2015 also used campaign funds to pay the staffer in question, Rebekah Caldwell Mason. Mason played a key role in the administration but was paid by campaign funds instead of state payroll.