Governor Robert Bentley

Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley has been embroiled in controversy involving his former aide Rebekah Caldwell Mason since last year. Bentley's recently released campaign finance report reveals campaign funds were used to pay legal fees for Mason.

(AL.com file)

Gov. Robert Bentley's campaign used funds to pay legal fees for former political adviser Rebekah Mason, according to news reports.

Bentley's annual campaign finance report, filed Tuesday, showed the campaign paid $8,912 to the law firm Copeland Franco Screws and Gill.

Bobby Segall, an attorney for the firm, has represented Mason in lawsuits filed by former Alabama Law Enforcement Secretary Spencer Collier and Wendall Ray Lewis, Bentley's former chief of security.

WSFA reported that Bill Athanas, an attorney representing the governor, confirmed that the payment from Bentley's campaign fund was for Mason's legal fees.

Athanas told the Montgomery Advertiser that the governor believed the payment to be appropriate.

The date of the payment is January 2016, which was before the Collier and Lewis lawsuits were filed.

Bentley also used campaign funds to pay his own legal bills.

State law allows the use of campaign funds for "legal fees and costs associated with any civil action, criminal prosecution, or investigation related to conduct reasonably related to performing the duties of the office held."

The Alabama Ethics Commission approved an advisory opinion on Wednesday on that section of the law. The commission said the opinion came in response to numerous requests for guidance on the law.

The seven-page opinion says a campaign expenditure is not allowed for obligations that would exist if the person was not a candidate or office holder.

The governor's press office referred questions to Athanas. He did not immediately respond to an email from AL.com.

Segall did not immediately return a call from AL.com.

Former House Speaker Mike Hubbard used campaign funds to pay his legal fees during his criminal investigation and trial.

Bentley and Mason have been embroiled in controversy since last year.

In March, Collier accused Bentley of having an affair with Mason after Bentley fired him. Bentley's wife of 50 years had filed for divorce seven months earlier.

Recordings of phone calls that became public at that time revealed the governor making suggestive comments.

Bentley admitted to speaking inappropriately to Mason but both denied they had an affair. Mason resigned.

Collier filed a lawsuit against Bentley and Mason, alleging wrongful termination and defamation.

In November, Bentley's former chief of security, Lewis, filed a lawsuit against Bentley and Mason in which he said the governor and Mason had an affair.

Bentley has said the Lewis claims were false and based on "worn-out internet rumors, fake news and street gossip."

Mason has denied any wrongdoing.

On April, 23 members of the House of Representatives signed an impeachment resolution against the governor because of questions over his relationship with Mason.

In November, the House Judiciary Committee suspended an investigation into the impeachment charges at the request of Attorney General Luther Strange, who said he was conducting a related investigation.

Bentley has denied breaking any laws or doing anything to warrant impeachment.

Last week, Bentley revealed that Mason and her husband, Jon, flew with him on the state plane to President Trump's inauguration.

Jon Mason is a member of Bentley's cabinet as director of Serve Alabama and his trip to D.C. was on state business, Bentley said.

Bentley also said he was accompanied by on the plane by a guest he did not name.

Bentley's office has said the state will not incur any cost for spouses or guests on the trip.