Former Governor Robert Bentley, left, prepares to move out of the Alabama Governors Mansion on Friday, April 14, 2017, in Montgomery, Ala.. Bentley resigned Monday after agreeing to plead guilty to two misdemeanor campaign finance violations. His decision to step down also halted impeachment hearings focused on his relationship with a former aide. (Albert Cesare/The Montgomery Advertiser via AP)
Former Governor Robert Bentley prepares to move out of the Alabama Governors Mansion on Friday, April 14, 2017, in Montgomery, Ala.. Bentley resigned Monday after agreeing to plead guilty to two misdemeanor campaign finance violations. His decision to step down also halted impeachment hearings focused on his relationship with a former aide. (Albert Cesare/The Montgomery Advertiser via AP)MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Former Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley says he resigned because the state "needed to be relieved" from a year-long scandal that involved allegations that he had an affair with his top political adviser.
In his first comments since he pleaded guilty to campaign finance charges, Bentley said Friday that he feels like a heavy load has been lifted off him.
Bentley resigned Monday, putting an end to impeachment hearings. Bentley says it became clear to him that the scandal wasn't going away. For months, he had refused calls to resign, saying he had done nothing wrong.
He spoke to The Associated Press and the Montgomery Advertiser as he was moving out of the governor's mansion.
Bentley is a dermatologist. He says he plans to return to practicing medicine and teaching.