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Ross Garber, who is based in Connecticut and Washington, D.C., is representing the governor's office in impeachment proceedings against Gov. Robert Bentley.

(Mike Cason/mcason@al.com)

The attorney representing Gov. Robert Bentley in impeachment proceedings said today that the special counsel hired by the House Judiciary Committee has not yet requested any interviews or documents from the governor or his staff.

Ross Garber, who is based in Connecticut and Washington, D.C., is the lawyer hired to represent the governor's office in the impeachment case, which is in the hands of the House Judiciary Committee.

The Judiciary Committee hired Jack Sharman, an attorney based in Birmingham, as special counsel to lead the investigation into the impeachment charges.

Garber said today he's met Sharman and had some initial discussions, but that Sharman has not requested any interviews or documents.

Garber said that was not surprising.

He said the appropriate first steps would be to determine the legal and procedural framework for the investigation.

Garber and other lawyers representing Bentley - personal attorney Joe Espy and Chief Legal Advisor David Byrne -- filed a motion on Thursday requesting to suspend the proceedings.

They say that the impeachment resolution is so vague that it does not allow due process.

The impeachment resolution, signed by 23 members of the 105-seat House in April, charges Bentley with corruption in office and willful neglect of duty but does not make allegations about specific conduct.