FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEWS ADVISORY
February 15, 2017
Steven T. Marshall
For More Information, contact:
Mike Lewis (334) 353-2199
Alabama Attorney General
Joy Patterson (334) 242-7491
Page 1 of 1
ATTORNEY GENERAL STEVEN T. MARSHALL STATEMENT REGARDING
STATUS OF ATTORNEY GENERAL OFFICE INVESTIGATION OF
GOVERNOR ROBERT BENTLEY
(MONTGOMERY) – Alabama Attorney General Steven T. Marshall released the following
statement concerning the status of the Attorney General Office’s investigation of Governor
Robert Bentley.
“In his letter of November 3, 2016, Attorney General Strange requested that the House Judiciary
Committee cease active interviews and investigation until necessary related work of the
Attorney General’s Office has been completed,” said Attorney General Steven T. Marshall.
“After meeting with the staff of the Special Prosecutions Division of the Attorney General’s
Office concerning the status of a possible investigation of Governor Bentley, I have determined
to recuse myself from the aforementioned related work and have appointed former
Montgomery County District Attorney Ellen Brooks to serve as supernumerary district attorney
leading the investigation.
“Ellen Brooks has a long and distinguished legal background, including 35 years in the
Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office where she served as District Attorney from 1993
to 2014. Ellen is an experienced prosecutor handling a variety of matters throughout her career
and I am confident she will ensure that all the facts are pursued in this investigation.
“After I took the oath of office, I pledged to the people of Alabama that my first priority as
Attorney General would be to determine if my recusal from a possible investigation was
necessary. Over the following 48 hours, I met with my special prosecutions staff, made the
decision to personally recuse, and I appointed Ellen Brooks to lead the investigation. I believe
this course of action fulfills my commitment to the people that this matter be handled
thoroughly and fairly.”
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Ellen Brooks appointment letter attached
501 Washington Avenue * Montgomery, AL 36104 * (334) 242-7300
www.ago.alabama.gov
