State Auditor Orders Governor To Appear For Sworn Testimony

Rickey Stokes

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Posted by: RStokes
Date: Apr 21 2016 8:50 PM

Citing "constitutional and statutory powers," State Auditor Jim Zeigler sent Gov. Robert Bentley an order to appear before his office next month to testify under oath. The order also compels Bentley to produce travel documents and phone records related to the scandal involving the governor's former senior political adviser within 10 days.

The adviser, Rebekah Caldwell Mason, was accused of having an affair with Bentley by former Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Secretary Spencer Collier. Mason, who has since resigned, and Bentley have both denied a physical affair, although the governor admitted to making sexually inappropriate comments to Mason over the phone.

The order compels Bentley to appear at the auditor's office at 10 a.m. May 2 "at which time you will be placed under oath by the state auditor and be compelled to provide information under oath," including travel logs involving state aircraft and records from phones Bentley used to communicate with Mason.

The governor's office could not immediately be reached for comment on whether he believes Zeigler has those powers.

"When you read the state constitution and the state code, you'll find some interesting stuff," the auditor said in a statement announcing the order.
"Like the power to compel officials to appear, and to put them under oath, which is vested in my office as state auditor."

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