State Senator Shay Shelnutt, who represents the north Jefferson area, is calling for Alabama governor and fellow republican, Robert Bentley to resign his office immediately in the wake of another round of accusations about the governor’s behavior with a top advisor. 

Shelnutt said in a written statement: 

“With a heavy heart but with a firm conviction, I’m calling on Governor Bentley to resign effective immediately. I believe his credibility and ability to work with our legislature has been jeopardized beyond repair and will continue to erode as facts and the perceptions of the facts continue to emerge from his indiscretion with Miss Mason. I ask that he put the citizens of Alabama and the state he loves first, resign immediately.

“Republicans often talk about holding our teachers and constituents accountable for their actions. I believe as the leader of our state government and as a Republican officeholder that Governor Bentley should set an example of a leader walking the walk.

“I ask my fellow legislators to join this call for resignation in order that we may move past this distraction and do the job we were elected to do by the citizens of Alabama.”

Shelnutt’s remarks come in the wake of former head of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, Spencer Collier, revealing details of conversations he said he had with the governor regarding the affair and recordings he claims are of the governor talking to his alleged mistress. Collier was fired from his position at ALEA by Bentley on Tuesday.

Following the revelations, Craig Ford, Darrio Melton and John Knight, all Alabama democrats in the House of Representatives, called for an investigation into the allegation that Bentley used state resources to carry on and cover up the affair. 

Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange issued the following statement regarding the allegations of the governor’s misuse: 

“In light of the accusations of potential wrongdoing that have been made over the last two days, and the numerous inquiries that my office has received, I would like to assure the public that the Attorney General’s Office takes very seriously any allegations involving potential criminal misconduct. My office has a strong record of probing illegal activity in this state and we will continue to do our job.

“That said, pursuant to our longstanding policy regarding pending criminal investigations, I will have no further comment at this time.”