Impeachment effort against Alabama Gov. Bentley slows
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) – 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.
McCutcheon said it would be “premature” to say whether or not he would support a call for impeachment proceedings after the session ends.
