MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Alabama’s state auditor has filed suit against Gov. Robert Bentley over his appointment of Luther Strange to the Senate seat previously held by Attorney General Jeff Sessions, with Zeigler claiming there was a “corrupt bargain” between the two.
State Auditor Jim Zeigler filed the suit Sunday in Montgomery County, claiming Bentley is wrong to wait until 2018 to hold an election for the position. The suit said state law requires an earlier special election.
Newly appointed Alabama Sen. Luther Strange speaks to the media during a press conference, Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017, in Montgomery, Ala. Gov. Robert Bentley named Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange to fill the U.S. Senate vacated by new U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson) 
“They think they’ve gotten away with it; they haven’t,” Zeigler said in an interview. “This is a corrupt bargain.”
Bentley’s office has said the appointment is legal and called the suit “meritless.”
“The governor set the election in the way state and federal law requires,” wrote David Byrne, Chief Legal Advisor to the governor, in a statement. “Auditor Zeigler has filed this wasteful lawsuit without even proposing an election date he believes to be legal or feasible.”