Impeachment effort against Alabama Gov. Bentley slows [audio/video]

Gov. Robert Bentley speaks during Alabama Community College Day on the Alabama Capitol lawn on Tuesday, April 5, 2016, in Montgomery, Ala.
Gov. Robert Bentley speaks during Alabama Community College Day on the Alabama Capitol lawn on Tuesday, April 5, 2016, in Montgomery, Ala.

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - With only nine meeting days left in the 2016 session, impeachment efforts against Alabama Governor Robert Bentley have slowed as legislators say necessary legislation to continue the process is not yet ready.

But Rules Chairman Mac McCutcheon said Tuesday that legislators don't need to rush to resolve the issue in the next few weeks. A majority of House members can call a meeting to consider impeachment anytime the legislature is not in session, according to section 173 of the Alabama Constitution.

"We don't need a knee jerk reaction just because we feel like we've got to do it before the session ends," McCutcheon said.

Bentley last month acknowledged making sexually charged remarks to a female aide but denies a physical affair or misuse of his office.

Legislators last week tapped the brakes on impeachment proceedings when they announced plans to establish an investigatory committee, which McCutcheon said was necessary to vet an unprecedented and unclear process.

Legislators are fine-tuning a resolution to establish that committee, McCutcheon said, which could have subpoena power to hear testimony.

Bentley said Tuesday that he hoped the proceedings are losing steam.

"There's really no basis for it, and they know that," Bentley said.

McCutcheon said the issue is still a "priority." But McCutcheon wouldn't speak to a timeline or if he thinks a committee can be organized before the end of the legislative session next month.

"As a personal legislator, I want to know more facts and I want to have more information," McCutcheon said.

Republican Rep. Mike Ball, who supported the initial articles of impeachment proposed against Bentley, said he believes there's a "distinct possibility" legislators could meet after the session if the committee finds probable cause.

Democratic Rep. Craig Ford said he and other Democratic members offered bipartisan support when Republicans filed the articles of impeachment last week, but he is willing to take the lead if the GOP is going to "sit back and bury it."

Ford said House Democrats would file new articles of impeachment if Bentley calls a special session over Medicaid funding, which Bentley said Tuesday is "an option."

"We left it up to the Republicans to police their own party," Ford said Tuesday night. "It seems like the Republican caucus doesn't want to impeach him."

Upcoming Events