House Democrats Want Attorney General to Investigate Allegations Against Gov. Bentley

The Alabama House Democrats released a statement regarding the allegations presented against Governor Robert Bentley on Wednesday, March 23rd.

“We are deeply troubled by the allegations that have surfaced over the past several days regarding Governor Bentley and our state law enforcement agency, ALEA.  While the Governor’s personal affairs are personal business, the duties of the Office of the Governor are the people’s business.

We hope the Attorney General’s office will swiftly and judiciously investigate all allegations that Governor Bentley asked law enforcement to lie about a criminal investigation or that he misused his office or public funds in any way.

While press was circled around the Governor yesterday, a General Fund budget was passed that drastically slashed Medicaid and put our people and our economy at risk. While we discussed numerous allegations of misuse of public funds, a bill is moving through the Legislature to make the State Auditor a political appointee by the Governor.

The legislature will continue forward in the regular session in the coming weeks, and our policymakers must have our attention solely focused on creating good policy that builds a better Alabama.

Instead, we have only seen more and more evidence of systemic corruption reaching the highest levels of our state’s government. The people of Alabama deserve better.

Public service is about doing what is best for the people of Alabama, and it is clear these countless distractions–whether criminal or ethical–are affecting our Legislature and now our Governor. It is time for the circus to stop.”

Rep. Craig Ford is a Democrat from Gadsden and the Minority Leader in the Alabama House of Representatives

 Rep. Darrio Melton is a Democrat from Selma and the Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus

 Rep. John Knight is a Democrat from Montgomery and the Chairman of the House Black Caucus