BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) — Governor Robert Bentley has been at the center of multiple allegations this past week. Included in those allegations is an alleged affair with his Senior Political Advisor, Rebekah Mason. With new information and statements coming out left and right, we wanted to help get you caught up on the events so far.
2010
Spring 2010 – Rebekah Mason hired as Robert Bentley’s campaign press secretary
November 2010 – Bentley beats Ron Sparks in the November General Election, becomes Governor of the state of Alabama.
2013
2013 – Mason becomes Bentley’s campaign spokesperson, removed from state payroll
April 5, 2013 – Spencer Collier is named Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) Secretary
2014
August 2014 – Rumors of affair arise, Collier claims Stan Stabler, then part of Governor Bentley Security Detail, saw inappropriate text to Mason on Bentley’s cell phone
Spencer Collier references this again on March 23, 2016 when he meets with the media, after being removed as ALEA Secretary:
“I saw the first change of Governor Robert Bentley August of 2014. I became aware of a text message that was sent from Mrs. Rebekah Mason to Governor Bentley. The text message was accidentally intercepted by Governor Bentley’s body man, his personal security. That man was Sergeant Stan Stabler. Sgt. Stabler accidentally picked up Governor Bentley’s cell phone as he left it in the Suburban and on the cell phone there was a text that was sexual in nature.”
November 2014 – Bentley beats Parker Griffith in General Election, reelected Governor of Alabama
2015
August 26, 2015 – Dianne Bentley files for divorce
August 28 2015 – County Circuit Judge seals Bentley divorce documents
September 1, 2015 – Rep. Allen Farley filed paperwork with state AG’s office requesting an investigation into whether state funds were inappropriately used by Bentley
September 29, 2015 – Divorce finalized, Tuscaloosa County judge unseals Bentley divorce records
2016
February 17, 2016 – Collier placed on medical leave by Governor Bentley
March 22, 2016 – Governor fires Collier, citing ALEA internal report, Stan Stabler replaces Collier as ALEA Secretary
March 23, 2016 – During press conference, Collier accused Bentley of affair, misusing state resources
March 23, 2016 – Bentley denies sexual relationship with Mason, but does admit he made inappropriate comments to her. Vows he never misused state resources.
March 23, 2016 – Rebekah Mason releases statement in response to Collier’s remarks
March 23, 2016 – YellowHammer News publishes alleged audio recordings of Governor Robert Bentley speaking with Rebekah Mason
March 24, 2016 – House Democrats minority leader, Rep. Craig Ford, calls on Bentley to resign
March 25, 2016 – Jon Mason, Rebekah’s husband, posts on his Facebook page that he “long ago resolved the personal issue playing out now”
March 25, 2016 – State Auditor, Jim Zeigler, files ethics violation complaint against Bentley
You can stay up to date on this continuing story on our Governor Bentley Scandal page.