Top aide to Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley resigns amid scandal

Soon after, a GOP lawmaker said he planned to introduce a resolution to begin impeachment proceedings against the Republican governor.

Rebekah Caldwell Mason announced her resignation in a statement sent by the governor's office, saying she would no longer serve as Bentley's senior political adviser and would no longer be paid by his campaign fund or work for a nonprofit organization formed to promote the his agenda.

Last week, Mason was thrust into the spotlight when former Law Enforcement Secretary Spencer Collier— a day after being fired by Bentley — accused the 73-year-old governor of having an inappropriate relationship with Mason.

Recordings obtained by The Associated Press purportedly show the governor — before his divorce — professing love to someone named Rebecca or Rebekah and telling her how much he enjoyed kissing and touching her.

Mason, a former television news anchor in Bentley's hometown of Tuscaloosa, signed on as spokeswoman for the little-known legislator's 2010 longshot bid for governor.

Observers said Mason helped the governor talk through options as he weighed decisions ranging from taking down Confederate flags to his proposed $800 million prison construction project before lawmakers.

[...] she was paid with campaign funds — something the governor's office said Bentley had done with previous political advisers in his administration.

Campaign records show Bentley's campaign paid Mason's company, RCM Communications, $76,500 in 2015 for consulting and travel reimbursement.