Alabama Top Cop Fired, Accuses Governor of affair
By Josh Moon | Montgomery Advertiser | March 24, 2016
Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley has carried on an affair with a married staffer and potentially committed a felony by misusing state resources to facilitate the affair, the former head of the state's law enforcement agency publicly alleged Wednesday.
Spencer Collier, who was fired Tuesday from his position as the head of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), told reporters that he held direct conversations with Bentley about his affair with senior political adviser Rebekah Caldwell Mason. Collier provided specific details of those conversations, going so far as to name when they occurred, dates, other parties present and subject matter. Bentley was married at the time the affair began.
"This has been a difficult time for my family and for the Bentleys," Collier said to open his press conference at the office of Montgomery attorney Kenny Mendelsohn. "I am disappointed in the man (Bentley) that I looked up to."
Collier said he learned of Bentley's affair by accident in August 2014, after the governor left his personal cell phone behind at an event. A text message on the screen was from Mason and it was sexual in nature, he said.
A short time later, a member of Bentley's security staff brought Collier a tape recording that had been provided by a member of Bentley's family, Collier said. On it, he said he heard Bentley and Mason carrying on a conversation that was sexual in nature.
"Body parts were discussed," Collier said. "It was very obvious what it was, what was taking place."
Collier said he dismissed Bentley's normal security team and he and another senior member escorted Bentley to an event in Greenville. During the trip, Collier said he confronted Bentley about the affair.
"He hung his head, he didn't deny it," Collier said. "He asked me how to get out of it."
Collier said he informed Bentley during that trip that an affair with Mason could easily violate the law should he provide her state resources, or even use state resources, to carry out the affair or cover it up.
Bentley assured him that he was not misusing state funds, so Collier said he let it go. Even after Bentley allegedly called Collier the following day and said he couldn't break off the affair, Collier said he was confident at that time that the governor was not misusing state funds.
However, that perception changed, Collier said. During conversations with other state workers, particularly those who handled Bentley's travel arrangements, Collier said he started to believe that Bentley has misappropriated state resources, although he admitted to having no proof.
Collier said Bentley has admitted to him within the last month that the affair is ongoing with Mason.
"He has told me that he is madly in love with Mason, but he's a man of honor and will not ask her to divorce her husband," Collier said.
Collier was originally placed on medical leave by Bentley a month ago, following an odd series of events related to the ongoing prosecution of Alabama House Speaker Mike Hubbard. An assistant attorney general for the state had requested an affidavit from Collier on a specific matter, but Bentley instructed Collier to remain out of the case and not submit the affidavit.
Collier said he had no choice as a law enforcement officer to cooperate.
"Bentley and (Mason) were furious with me," Collier said.
On Tuesday, Bentley relieved Collier of his duties and at the same time alleged that an investigation at ALEA had turned up misused funds. Collier vehemently denied that allegation.
"You can turn ALEA upside down and there won't be missing funds there," Collier said. "I'll be happy to cooperate with any investigation into that."
EDITOR’S NOTE: It should be emphasized that Gov. Bentley is an honorable man because he will not ask his playmate to divorce her husband.
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