Fired ALEA Sec. Spencer Collier: Gov. Robert Bentley Had Affair

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Former Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Secretary Spencer Collier says he has seen evidence that Gov. Robert Bentley had an affair. The claims came in a news conference in Montgomery in which Collier spoke of his firing as head of ALEA.

Collier says he thought of Bentley as a friend and father figure for about 15 years, until August 2014 when a text message between senior adviser Rebekah Caldwell Mason and Bentley was intercepted. Collier says that message was clearly romantic and sexual in nature.

Collier says he told Bentley that he “loved him like a father” but wouldn’t lie to a grand jury about the relationship. Collier says he told Bentley that if could be a crime if Bentley had used state resources or campaign funds as part of any relationship with Mason. Collier says Bentley had told him that he had used neither resources or campaign money and would terminate the relationship.

But Collier says Bentley later told him that he couldn’t end the relationship. Collier says Mason’s influence over the governor and state government was unmatched in his memory, and that people in law enforcement, the governor’s office, cabinet members and the governor’s family were complaining about it. Collier says that Bentley had said that anyone questioning Mason would be fired.

Bentley and former First Lady Dianne Bentley separated and later divorced in 2015. Collier says Bentley told him that he would not ask Mason to divorce her husband.

Collier says that he is prepared to testify under oath to a grand jury about his allegations. He says Dianne Bentley and the couple’s family are the victims.

Collier’s news conference came after Bentley fired Collier on Tuesday, effective immediately. Earlier Tuesday, acting ALEA Secretary Stan Stabler announced that an internal review had uncovered money being misused. Stabler said he forwarded the review to the Attorney General’s office.

“After placing Spencer on medical leave a few weeks ago to allow him to recover from back surgery, Acting ALEA Secretary Stan Stabler identified several areas of concern in the operations, policies and procedures at ALEA. After an internal review, the ALEA Integrity Unit found a number of issues, including possible misuse of state funds. I am disappointed to learn these facts, and today, I relieved Spencer Collier of his duties as ALEA Secretary,” Bentley said in a statement.

Collier says he learned of the alleged misuse of money and his firing through social media. He says that he will cooperate with the attorney general’s office and the FBI because he says no money was misused by ALEA.

Bentley issues apology for “inappropriate things” he said to Mason.

Mason issues statement about allegations.

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