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WEBVTT JUST SEARCH WVTM 13 IN YOUR APPSTORE.LISA: FOUR CASES AGAINSTGOVERNOR ROBERT BENTLEY AREHEADING TO THE MONTGOMERY COUNTYD.A.AS WVTM13'S MARLEI MARTINEZTELLS US, THE ALABAMA ETHICSCOMMISSION FOUND PROBABLE CAUSETHAT HE BROKE THE LAW AND COULDGO TO PRISON.REPORTER THIS IS A BIG DEAL FORGOVERNOR ROBERT BENTLEY BECAUSETODAY INSIDE THAT BUILDING THEALABAMA ETHICS COMMISSION SAYSHE MIGHT HAVE VIOLATED THE LAW.>> WITH REGARD TO THE COMPLAINTFILED AGAINST -- REPORTER: FOUR TIMES OVER, THEALABAMA ETHICS COMMISSION FOUNDPROBABLE CAUSE THAT GOVERNORROBERT BENTLEY VIOLATED ETHICSLAW AND FAIR CAMPAIGN PRACTICELAW.IT TOOK THE COMMISSION MORE THANNINE HOURS OF CLOSED-DOORDELIBERATION TO MAKE THATDECISION.AFTER OVER A YEAR OFINVESTIGATIONS, THE PROCESS ISNOW MAKING PROGRESS.THE WHEELS OF JUSTICE TURNEDSLOWLY, BUT THEY ARE AT LASTTURNING.KYLE AFTER MORE THAN A YEAR OFINVESTIGATION, 45 WITNESSINTERVIEWS, AND 33,000DOCUMENTS, THE COMMISSION FOUNDPROBABLE CAUSE FOR THESE FOURCLASS B FELONIES THAT THEGOVERNOR MIGHT HAVE USED PUBLICRESOURCES TO FURTHER HISPERSONAL INTERESTS, HE MAY HAVERECEIVED A CAMPAIGN DONATIONOUTSIDE THE CONTRIBUTION WINDOW,HE MAY HAVE ABUSED CAMPAIGNFUNDS BY USING THEM FOR LEGALFEES AND THE GOVERNOR MAY HAVEIMPROPERLY MADE A LOAN TO HISCAMPAIGN ACCOUNT.>> HE NEEDS TO GO OUT OF OFFICEIMMEDIATELY SO HE LOSES POWER.HE'S ONLY 15% POLL NUMBERS, BUTHE HAS TO LEAVE SO THEY HAVE TOIMPEACH.REPORTER: THE ETHICS COMMISSIONREFERRED THESE FOUR CASES TO THEMONTGOMERY COUNTY D.A. TOPROSECUTE NOW.THAT IS LEGALLY BRILLIANTBECAUSE IT AVOIDS THE APPEARANCEOF A CONFLICT, SINCE GOVERNORBENTLEY JUST APPOINTED THE NEWATTORNEY GENERAL.REPORTER: TONIGHT, THEGOVERNOR'S LEGAL TEAM SAYS HEMAINTAINS HIS INNOCENCE, >> I DON'T THINK IT IS ASIGNIFICANT SETBACK IN THE GRANDSCHEME OF THINGS.I I SAI THIS IS NOT A FINDINGOF VIOLATION.IT IS A FINDING OF PROBABLECAUSE.REPORTER: ON FRIDAY, SEPARATELY,THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEEWILL BE RELEASING THEIR REPORT.LISA: IF THE GOVERNOR IS FOUNDGUILTY, HE FACES UP TO 20 YEARSIN PRISON AND UP TO A 20,000

Advertisement Alabama Ethics Commission finds probable cause Gov. Bentley broke state ethics laws Panel voted Wednesday to refer the matter to the district attorney's office for possible prosecution. Share Shares Copy Link Copy

The Latest on the Ethics Commission hearing on Gov. Robert Bentley (all times local): 7:10 p.m.A state ethics panel has ruled that there is probable cause that Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley violated state ethics and campaign finance law in a sex-tinged scandal that has engulfed him for more than a year. The Alabama Ethics Commission voted Wednesday to refer the matter to the district attorney's office for possible prosecution. The 74-year-old governor has struggled to shake off a scandal after recordings surfaced last year of him making suggestive remarks to a female aide before his divorce. Bentley has admitted making personal mistakes but denied doing anything illegal or that would merit his removal from office. State Auditor Jim Zeigler filed an ethics complaint against Bentley accusing him of using state resources to pursue a relationship with the aide. The commission found probable cause that Bentley misused state resources and improperly accepting a campaign contribution and loan outside allowed fundraising windows.___ 8:18 a.m. The Alabama Ethics Commission could weigh in soon on whether there's reason to believe Gov. Robert Bentley broke state law in a scandal that has engulfed him for a year. The commission is expected to go behind closed doors Wednesday to consider the matter. The 74-year-old governor admitted personal mistakes after recorded phone calls surfaced of him making sexually charged remarks to a female aide. However, he maintains he did nothing illegal. State Auditor Jim Zeigler filed an ethics complaint against Bentley accusing him of using state resources to pursue a relationship with the aide. The commission functions like a grand jury and will decide if there is probable cause that Bentley broke the ethics law. The commission could vote to refer the matter for possible prosecution.