Gov. Bentley’s Office Responds to Questions about Las Vegas Trip

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Gov. Robert Bentley’s office has issued a statement concerning a trip the governor took with several staff members to attend the Republican Governors Association Conference in Las Vegas last year.

One of those staffers was his then-Senior Political Adviser Rebekah Mason. Bentley has acknowledged making inappropriate comments to Mason, but says they didn’t have a physical affair. Their relationship has been at the center of an impeachment effort that is being organized by some in the Legislature.

AL.com has published a story saying that people close to the governor claim that he wanted to use the trip to spend time with Mason and to keep his security team at an unusual distance from him.  The trip included a Celine Dion concert as well as meetings at the conference.

Below is the full statement from the Office of the Governor:

“The Governor attended the Republican Governors Association 2015 Annual Conference in November of 2015.  Staff attending with the Governor included Deputy Chief of Staff Jon Barganier, Communications Director Jennifer Ardis and then Senior Political Adviser Rebekah Mason. The Republican Governors Association covered the cost of the conference, and no state taxpayer dollars were used for the trip.  RGA reimbursed the Governor’s campaign account which then reimbursed the state for use of the state airplane to transport the Governor and his staff to the conference.

“One of the main purposes for the conference is for Governors to meet privately with other Republican Governors on issues that are critical to states and the nation. The Governor attended several meetings regarding the Syrian refugee issue and spoke on a panel regarding health care opportunities for states to discuss how states can improve healthcare outcomes by leveraging innovative technologies to ensure affordable, accessible quality of care for Americans. In addition to his formal speaking events, the Governor had several interviews on the Syrian refugee issue, including a national Fox News interview with Bret Baier, who was at conference covering it.

“The Governor, his security and traveling staff all stayed at the same hotel and on the same floor. He did attend a Celine Dion concert with his traveling staff during one of his free evenings at the conference. The concert tickets were paid for personally by the Governor. Security was with the Governor at every meal he ate.”