Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley responds to statements made by Spencer Collier, the former head of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, Wednesday on March 23, 2016, in Montgomery, Ala.MONTGOMERY, Ala. – If Alabama State Auditor Jim Zeigler had his druthers on Monday morning, he would have interviewed an empty chair.
Zeigler awaited Gov. Robert Bentley, who he had summoned to answer questions about possible use of state resources and the governor’s relationship with a former female political aide. Some 60 feet away from Bentley’s office in the Alabama Statehouse, Zeigler twice called for Bentley as a witness.
When Bentley didn’t show Monday, Zeigler adjourned the makeshift hearing, though he said he’d never expected Bentley to appear in the first place. He now plans to seek a court order in the Montgomery County Circuit Court to compel Bentley’s testimony, though he needs pro bono legal representation or a publicly supported legal fund to pay for it.
Zeigler issued the summons on April 21, citing an obscure section of state code allowing the state auditor to require testimony under oath. He requested that Bentley produce documents and answer questions about state cellphone use and travel records, among other things.
“Using state money or state facilities or state resources for personal use is problematic under the ethics law and possibly under other laws,” Zeigler said. “That’s what we’re looking for. We’re looking at using state resources for personal use.”