Following his firing on Tuesday, March 22, a former state department head and friend of Gov. Robert Bentley accused Alabama’s leader of having an extramarital affair. In response, Bentley has denied the accusations. 

Playing out in dramatic fashion over the course of 24 hours, Bentley first announced the termination of Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Secretary Spencer Collier on Tuesday night. In a release, Bentley said Collier was being relieved of his duties and cited an alleged misuse of state funds. Collier was replaced by Stan Stabler.

“After placing Spencer on medical leave a few weeks ago to allow him to recover from back surgery, Acting ALEA Secretary Stan Stabler identified several areas of concern in the operations, policies and procedures at ALEA,” Bentley said. “After an internal review, the ALEA Integrity Unit found a number of issues, including possible misuse of state funds. I am disappointed to learn these facts.”

In response, Collier held a press conference Wednesday, March 23, during which he told media outlets that he believed Bentley had an affair with a female staff member. According to the Associated Press, Collier said he listened to a recorded conversation in 2014 where Bentley can be identified making sexual remarks to a female. Collier, AP reports, acknowledged it wasn’t proof of an affair though, and added that he couldn’t identify the female.

Bentley responded with a press conference of his own on Wednesday afternoon during which he denied the allegations. He admitted to making inappropriate comments, but said he did not have a physical affair with a staff member. 

Bentley and his wife, Dianne, divorced last year after she cited the relationship had suffered an irrevocable breakdown.