BREAKING: Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley Resigns

By Joe Cunningham | 6:45 PM on April 10, 2017

Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley speaks to the media before signing the document officially appointing Luther Strange to the U.S. Senate during a press conference, Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017, in Montgomery, Ala. Gov. Robert Bentley said he will hand-deliver the letter appointing Strange to the U.S. Senate. Gov. Robert Bentley said he will hand-deliver the letter appointing Strange to the U.S. Senate. Strange will replace Jeff Sessions, whose selection as U.S. attorney general by President Donald Trump was confirmed Wednesday. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

The Associated Press is now reporting that Robert Bentley, Republican governor of Alabama, has resigned from his office, following an arrest and booking into Montgomery County Jail earlier today.

BREAKING: Prosecutor says Alabama governor has resigned and pleaded guilty to misdemeanor campaign finance charges.

— The Associated Press (@AP) April 10, 2017

The “misdemeanor finance charges” are part of a larger sex scandal in which Bentley was caught in an affair with a top staffer and used his power to intimidate others into silence.

Lt. Governor Kay Ivey will be sworn in to take Bentley’s place for the remainder of the term.