By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
Monday, September 28, Alabama Governor Robert Bentley (R) and his wife of 50 years, Martha Dianne Jones Bentley have filed a divorce settlement agreement with the Court.
Governor Bentley said in a statement, “The last four weeks have been a very difficult time for my family and for our state. The people of Alabama have prayed for us and have encouraged us. For that, I am extremely grateful.”
Gov. Bentley continued, “Dianne and I have reached a mutual agreement in our proceedings. I have asked Judge Philip Lisenby to unseal settlement documents so the public and the media will have full access to it. Thank you for your continued prayers and support. I am truly blessed and deeply honored to serve as your Governor.”
The Alabama Political Reporter has heard all of the gossip and wild stories that have been reported by internet bloggers and angry characters on Facebook about alleged infidelity. Our efforts to track down a credible source for all of those tales have to this point proven fruitless. Mrs. Bentley did not allege infidelity in her original divorce filing. All of the people we have been able to talk to us that are close to the Bentley’s or to the married staffer accused of being ‘the other woman’ have categorically denied the affair allegations.
Rather than dragging this process out and focusing on every flaw, slight, and sad moment in a relationship that lasted well over a half century, the Bentley’s have quickly reached a settlement. This avoids the unpleasant spectacle of turning this into a media circus.
The Bentleys have four sons and six granddaughters. Governor Robert Bentley (72) grew up in Shelby County and is a doctor, a University of Alabama alum, the founder of the highly successful Alabama Dermatology Associates, a Vietnam War era veteran of the United States Air Force, a former state legislator, and a longtime deacon at the First Baptist Church in Tuscaloosa.
Governor Bentley was elected Governor in 2010 and re-elected in 2014.
