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President Barack Obama gives a toast during a National Governors Association dinner and reception in the State Dining Room of the White House February 21, 2016 in Washington, D.C.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>(Photo: Pool, Getty Images)
Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley’s guest at a formal White House dinner in February was his senior political adviser, Rebekah Mason, one month before recorded phone conversations revealed a romantic relationship between them.
Bentley, whose divorce from his wife of 50 years became final in September, attended the formal, black-tie governors' dinner at the White House with Mason on Feb. 21, an annual event held on the same weekend as the National Governors Association meetings in Washington. President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama hosted the governors and their guests — wearing tuxedos and ball gowns — in the State Dining Room.
Bentley’s spokeswoman confirmed Mason’s attendance at the dinner.
At the time, Mason was Bentley’s senior adviser but she was no longer on the state payroll. Just slightly more than one month after the dinner, on March 23, the state’s top law enforcement officer accused Bentley and Mason of having an affair and misusing state resources, and a recording of their private phone conversations was made public.
Mason resigned March 30. Bentley and Mason have denied a sexual relationship and Bentley has denied misusing state resources. Bentley conceded he made<span style="color: Red;">*</span>inappropriate remarks to Mason and said he apologized to her family and his family. Efforts to impeach him are underway in the Alabama Legislature.
“It was a social event but it is also a working event,” Bentley spokeswoman Jennifer Ardis said about the White House dinner. Cabinet officials also attend with their spouses and sit among<span style="color: Red;">*</span>the governors, she said.
In previous years, Bentley attended the dinner with his wife, Dianne Bentley, according to the White House visitor logs.
This year, Obama opened the dinner with a toast, according to the transcript.
“I want to start by thanking the governors and your loved ones who are here tonight,” Obama said.
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