Bentley Not Going to GOP Convention

In a different year, Republican Alabama Governor Robert Bentley would have packed his bags and be on his way to Cleveland for next week’s Republican National Convention.

Bentley endorsed John Kasich as “the only grownup in the room” early in primary season, but Kasich’s hopes faded long ago, and it is now  the Year of Donald Trump, who Bentley had disparaged but eventually endorsed.

Bentley’s press office says he will stay in Montgomery next week.

He has no shortage of other issues to keep him busy.

A special legislative committee will meet today to considering hiring a lawyer to lead their investigation into a possible Bentley impeachment. And then there’s the special grand jury meeting this week, apparently taking testimony about an investigation centering on ALEA.

The Associated Press reports Bentley testified earlier this week:

“Bentley appeared Wednesday. The person was not authorized to discuss a secret grand jury proceeding publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Montgomery Circuit Judge Gene Reese on May 23 granted a request from the attorney general’s office to convene a grand jury to investigate “certain matters.” The request was filed by the head of the division that investigates public corruption. The grand jury was to be assembled July 11.”

Watch Alabama News Network online and on-air today for coverage of the legislative committee meeting this afternoon.

[The Associated Press contributed to this report]