Governor Apologizes for Inappropriate Remarks, Denies Physical Relationship with Advisor

| March 23, 2016 

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2016/03/bentley-by-gigi-scaled.jpeg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:6:{s:5:"width";i:2560;s:6:"height";i:2071;s:4:"file";s:35:"2016/03/bentley-by-gigi-scaled.jpeg";s:5:"sizes";a:14:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:28:"bentley-by-gigi-336x272.jpeg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:272;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:5:"large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:28:"bentley-by-gigi-771x624.jpeg";s:5:"width";i:771;s:6:"height";i:624;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:28:"bentley-by-gigi-140x140.jpeg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:12:"medium_large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:28:"bentley-by-gigi-768x621.jpeg";s:5:"width";i:768;s:6:"height";i:621;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"1536x1536";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:30:"bentley-by-gigi-1536x1243.jpeg";s:5:"width";i:1536;s:6:"height";i:1243;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"2048x2048";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:30:"bentley-by-gigi-2048x1657.jpeg";s:5:"width";i:2048;s:6:"height";i:1657;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:26:"bentley-by-gigi-80x80.jpeg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:28:"bentley-by-gigi-600x338.jpeg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:338;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:28:"bentley-by-gigi-600x600.jpeg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:600;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:28:"bentley-by-gigi-384x311.jpeg";s:5:"width";i:384;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:28:"bentley-by-gigi-328x265.jpeg";s:5:"width";i:328;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:28:"ab-block-post-grid-landscape";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:28:"bentley-by-gigi-600x400.jpeg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:400;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:25:"ab-block-post-grid-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:28:"bentley-by-gigi-600x600.jpeg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:600;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:28:"bentley-by-gigi-125x125.jpeg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}s:10:"image_meta";a:12:{s:8:"aperture";s:1:"0";s:6:"credit";s:0:"";s:6:"camera";s:0:"";s:7:"caption";s:0:"";s:17:"created_timestamp";s:1:"0";s:9:"copyright";s:0:"";s:12:"focal_length";s:1:"0";s:3:"iso";s:1:"0";s:13:"shutter_speed";s:1:"0";s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:11:"orientation";s:1:"0";s:8:"keywords";a:0:{}}s:14:"original_image";s:20:"bentley-by-gigi.jpeg";}
        )

    [_media_credit] => Array
        (
            [0] => Gigi Douban
        )

    [_navis_media_credit_org] => Array
        (
            [0] => WBHM
        )

    [_navis_media_can_distribute] => Array
        (
            [0] => 
        )

    [_imagify_optimization_level] => Array
        (
            [0] => 1
        )

    [_imagify_data] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:2:{s:5:"stats";a:3:{s:13:"original_size";i:1512836;s:14:"optimized_size";i:817793;s:7:"percent";d:45.939999999999998;}s:5:"sizes";a:9:{s:4:"full";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:56:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/03/bentley-by-gigi.jpeg";s:13:"original_size";i:1251479;s:14:"optimized_size";i:635478;s:7:"percent";d:49.219999999999999;}s:9:"thumbnail";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:6:"medium";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:64:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/03/bentley-by-gigi-336x272.jpeg";s:13:"original_size";i:27132;s:14:"optimized_size";i:20080;s:7:"percent";d:25.989999999999998;}s:5:"large";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:64:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/03/bentley-by-gigi-771x624.jpeg";s:13:"original_size";i:107894;s:14:"optimized_size";i:69184;s:7:"percent";d:35.880000000000003;}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:64:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/03/bentley-by-gigi-418x338.jpeg";s:13:"original_size";i:39780;s:14:"optimized_size";i:29207;s:7:"percent";d:26.579999999999998;}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:64:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/03/bentley-by-gigi-300x300.jpeg";s:13:"original_size";i:26096;s:14:"optimized_size";i:19193;s:7:"percent";d:26.449999999999999;}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:64:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/03/bentley-by-gigi-384x311.jpeg";s:13:"original_size";i:34007;s:14:"optimized_size";i:25185;s:7:"percent";d:25.940000000000001;}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:64:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/03/bentley-by-gigi-328x265.jpeg";s:13:"original_size";i:26448;s:14:"optimized_size";i:19466;s:7:"percent";d:26.399999999999999;}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}}}
        )

    [_imagify_status] => Array
        (
            [0] => success
        )

)
1677735245 
1458751055

Governor Robert Bentley says he did not have a physical relationship with a top advisor and allegations of an affair are not true or accurate. But the governor says he did make inappropriate comments to her which was a mistake.

That’s in response to the former director of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, Spencer Collier, who held a press conference earlier Wednesday detailing an alleged affair between Bentley and a top advisor, Rebekah Mason. Bentley fired Collier Tuesday saying an ongoing investigation revealed possible misuse of funds within the agency.

Collier said he heard an audio recording supplied by a family member that consisted of Bentley and Mason having a sexual conversation. Bentley says he has been made aware of the tape but he has not heard it.

“I’m sure that I have, at that time, I said some inappropriate things and I know that I did that,” says Bentley. He says he has apologized to his family and Mason’s family. Bentley says he’s asking for forgiveness from those involved and the people of Alabama.

Bentley says he has not done anything illegal and has not asked anyone to lie. He says he has not considered stepping down.

“The people of Alabama have twice elected me. I have been completely honest with the people of Alabama, and I’m being honest today,” says Bentley. “I stand before you and stand before the people of this state and say I made a mistake.”

Collier also says ALEA director Stan Stabler discovered a text of a “sexual nature” while part of the governor’s security detail two years ago which brought the alleged affair to Collier’s attention. Stabler says he didn’t find such a text.

 

Esther Ciammachilli and Rachel Osier Lindley also contributed to this report. 

 

Prediction market trader ‘Magamyman’ made $553,000 on death of Iran’s supreme leader

It's the latest trade drawing scrutiny on the popular prediction market site for appearing to show an insider making profits on military secrets.

Oil prices rise sharply in market trading after attacks in Middle East disrupt supply

The high prices came as U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran and retaliatory strikes against Israel and U.S. military installations around the Gulf sent disruptions through the global energy supply chain.

Satellite images provide view inside Iran at war

Satellite images from commercial companies show the extent of U.S. and Israeli strikes, and how Iran is responding.

Mideast clashes breach Olympic truce as athletes gather for Winter Paralympic Games

Fighting intensified in the Middle East during the Olympic truce, in effect through March 15. Flights are being disrupted as athletes and families converge on Italy for the Winter Paralympics.

A U.S. scholarship thrills a teacher in India. Then came the soul-crushing questions

She was thrilled to become the first teacher from a government-sponsored school in India to get a Fulbright exchange award to learn from U.S. schools. People asked two questions that clouded her joy.

Sunday Puzzle: Sandwiched

NPR's Ayesha Rascoe plays the puzzle with WXXI listener Jonathan Black and Weekend Edition Puzzlemaster Will Shortz.

More Front Page Coverage