Taking a closer look at the governor

Former Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Secretary Spencer Collier received clearance of any wrongdoing from a grand jury last week, which sets the stage for renewed interest in Gov. Robert Bentley’s conduct in office.

Bentley fired Collier in March after announcing his administration reported possible misuse of state funds at the law enforcement agency. The next day Collier unloaded on the governor, accusing him of having an affair with his then-political adviser, Rebekah Mason, and interfering in law enforcement business by telling him not to sign an affidavit requested by a prosecutor who heads the public corruption unit in the attorney general’s office.

Life as governor has not been ideal since Collier’s press conference in March. Bentley, who was divorced before news of his affair surfaced, has been scorned by lawmakers. A group of legislators want him impeached over concerns of whether Bentley is guilty of misusing the office of governor.

For Alabama, the Bentley affair has contributed to grinding much of government into an ineffectual body. The Legislature’s regular session accomplished little, especially concerning anything the governor proposed. Special sessions called by the governor also ended as largely dismal failures.

Collier’s attorney unleashed a barrage of stinging words at the governor following the grand jury’s decision that the former ALEA leader was doing anything wrong. The governor is now fending off accusations that he used state law enforcement resources for political purposes and that the ALEA investigation was based on rumor and conjecture. Bentley, of course, has denied any fault.

Nonetheless, the committee looking into impeaching the governor may have more to consider since Collier has been cleared by a grand jury. There is nowhere else to look but the governor himself where potential misuse of state power is concerned.