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Alabama Governor Resigns Before He Can Be Impeached over Messy Affair and Misdemeanor Crimes

Robert Bentley resigned Monday evening amidst an ongoing ethics investigation into his unusually close relationship with a female staffer and his illegal efforts to conceal it.

Alabama's "Love Gov" is governor no more.

Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley resigned Monday evening amidst an ongoing ethics investigation into his unusually close relationship with a female staffer and his illegal efforts to conceal it. He also pleaded guilty to two campaign finance misdemeanor violations.

Bentley admitted guilt to one count of failure to disclose information on a statement of economic interest, and one count for failure to file campaign finance reports. The disgraced ex-governor will surrender more than $36,000 in campaign funds and serve 100 hours' worth of public service. He will not be able to seek public office again.

Bentley's public troubles started last March, when he fired Alabama Law Enforcement Agency head Spencer Collier. A day later, Collier announced that the 74-year-old Bentley had been having an affair with Rebekah Mason, a much-younger, married woman who had worked on Bentley's election campaign and was then serving as his aide. A humiliating recording soon emerged of the governor telling a woman, identified as Mason, how much he liked touching her breasts. That recording soon earned Bentley the nickname "Love Gov."

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