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(Mike Cason/mcason@al.com)

The chairman of the committee overseeing the impeachment investigation of Gov. Robert Bentley has denied the governor's request to suspend the proceedings.

Rep. Mike Jones, R-Andalusia, also denied the governor's request that three members of the committee be recused.

And the special counsel hired to handle the investigation has requested a lengthy list of documents from the governor's office, including some about the activities of Bentley's former political adviser, Rebekah Mason.

Jones is chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, which is handling the proceedings, and issued a press release today about his decision to deny the motions for suspension of the proceedings and for recusals.

"After careful consideration and a close examination of the constitutional law and other reference sources, the motions are denied," Jones said.

Ross Garber, who is representing the governor's office, said he hopes and expects the full committee will consider the issues raised about the process.

"Any further impeachment investigation must comply with the Constitution," Garber said in an email responding to Jones' decisions.

Bentley's lawyers have argued that the resolution passed by the House to initiate the impeachment process is so vague that it does not allow the governor to receive due process.

Bentley is accused of willful neglect of duty and corruption in office. The governor has denied doing anything to warrant removal from office and has said he plans to complete his term.

Jones wrote in an eight-page letter that Bentley's claims of denial of due process are "premature and erroneous."

Jones wrote that the proceedings are in the investigation stage and that Bentley is not entitled to specificity about any allegations during the investigation.

Jones also disputed the assertion by Bentley's lawyers that the impeachment process is a criminal proceeding.

As for the recusals, Jones wrote that the governor has no authority to dictate to the House or to the Judiciary Committee which representatives can sit on the committee.

Bentley's lawyers had asked that Reps. Mike Ball, R-Madison; Allen Farley, R-MCalla and Mike Holmes, R-Wetumpka, recuse themselves.

They voted for the resolution that launched the impeachment proceedings in April, the resolution that accuses the governor of neglect of duty and corruption.

Bentley's lawyers said they could not be both accusers and deciders on the proceedings.

All three have said they do not intend to recuse.

Garber, in his response to Jones' decision today, said impeachments are serious matters that can void elections and nullify the votes of citizens.

"In modern times only two U.S. governors have been removed from office through impeachment, and only after having been charged with committing felonies in office," Garber said in an email.

"The law provides that impeachment proceedings must follow due process requirements.

"While we appreciate Chairman Jones's opinion, we still hope and expect the Judiciary Committee itself will meet to consider these important issues, as required by law and the Rules of both the Committee and the House of Representatives."

Jones' eight-page says that the special counsel hired by the committee to lead the investigation, Jack Sharman, sent Bentley on Aug. 12 two requests for documents related to the investigation.

The governor's lawyers responded by letter on Aug. 17, saying they intended to wait for the committee's "substantive decision on our pending motions and a constitutionally firm charging document" before responding to the request for documents.

Special counsel Sharman, in a five-page letter to Bentley's lawyers, said the committee "intends to conduct a swift, unhindered investigation that starts with the collection of documents."

Sharman wrote that he was disappointed at the refusal to provide the documents and that the failure to cooperate with the investigation could itself be grounds for impeachment.

The list of documents requested is attached to the notice from Jones and the letter from Sharman released today.

Among the documents requested:

Current and previous staff lists of the governor's office; a list of all staffers work phones and state-issued cellphones; complete calendars for Bentley and former political adviser Rebekah Mason; documents on use of state aircraft; documents on ground transportation for Mason; documents on Mason's visit to the governor's mansion and Wynfield Estate; documents on leased or chartered air travel by Bentley and Mason; and documents requesting reimbursement from state funds by or on behalf of Bentley and Mason.

Also requested, any documents related to terminations and transfers at the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency; former ALEA Secretary Spencer Collier; and prosecutors in the Mike Hubbard case.

In April, 23 members of the House signed the impeachment resolution against Bentley.

For months, Bentley has been hounded by questions about Mason and his decision to fire former ALEA Secretary Collier.

In March, Bentley apologized for racy comments to Mason after the release of audiotapes that indicated a romantic involvement. Bentley's wife of 50 years had divorced him last year.

Bentley and Mason denied having an affair. Mason resigned.

Bentley put Collier on medical leave in February after Collier, against his orders, gave state prosecutors an affidavit in the Mike Hubbard case.

In March, Bentley fired Collier, saying an investigation found possible misuse of funds. Collier said he had done nothing wrong.

Collier went public with allegations that Bentley and Mason had an affair and that he had warned the governor about using state resources to facilitate it.

Collier said Bentley fired him for refusing to lie to prosecutors about the affidavit.

Bentley said he did not tell Collier to lie.

Collier has sued Bentley, Mason and others, alleging wrongful termination and defamation.