We have talked about the importance of ethics in our government leaders many times in this space, and this certainly won’t be the last time. Thursday, the Alabama Ethics Commission found there was sufficient evidence to seek criminal charges against Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley and turned over the case to the attorney general’s office.

Bentley is accused of using state personnel and equipment to further personal interests and three campaign finance violations: using campaign funds to pay the legal bills of a public official, former top political aide and alleged mistress Rebekah Mason; making a loan to his campaign outside the time he was a candidate and receiving a campaign contribution outside the time he was a candidate for governor.