A powerful top aide to Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley has resigned as senior political advisor after being embroiled in a sex scandal with the governor.
Rebekah Mason announced her resignation from Bentley’s campaign and a supportive political group in a Wednesday statement released through the governor’s office.
“My only plans are to focus my full attention on my precious children and my husband who I love dearly,” Mason said. “They are the most important people in my life. Thank you for your prayers for our family.”
.@GovernorBentley‘s senior advisor and mistress Rebekah Mason has resigned. Statement from Gov’s office… More soon pic.twitter.com/3pfpLv6Vea
— Cliff Sims (@Cliff_Sims) March 30, 2016
Audio surfaced over the last week of Bentley, whose wife recently divorced him, making a number of sexually-themed statements to Mason during phone conversations over the last few years.
In one reported phone call, the governor told Mason: “You’d kiss me? I love that. You know I do love that. You know what? When I stand behind you and I put my arms around you, and I put my hands on your breasts, and I put my hands on you and pull you in real close. Hey, I love that, too.”
In another one, Bentley said: “But, baby, let me tell you what we’re gonna have to do. We’re gonna have to start locking the door. If we’re gonna do what we did the other day we’re gonna have to start locking the door. You know what, it is kinda scary. Somebody open that door? Mmm.”
But despite those comments being made public, Bentley has denied having a physical relationship with his aide. “I want everyone to know, though, that I have never had a physical affair with Mrs. Mason,” he said in a news conference.
Bentley has faced some calls for resign himself, including from some state legislators.