The video above was provided by Governor Robert Bentley’s office.

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Friday morning, Governor Robert Bentley made an announcement on the steps of the State Capitol. Despite speculation about what he might say, he affirmed he plans to stay in office.”I do not plan to resign,” Governor Bentley said.

The announcement comes days before the House Judiciary Committee plans to begin impeachment proceedings starting on Monday. Earlier this week, the Alabama Ethics Commission ruled the governor violated state ethics and campaign finance laws.

In a prepared statement, Governor Bentley made a heartfelt plea to the people of Alabama to forgive him for his past mistakes. He said he has been trying to make peace with his family and with God.

“Yesterday, Speaker McCutcheon said the people of Alabama have never asked for this. He’s exactly right. The people of this state never asked to be told of, or shown the intimate, embarrassing details of my personal life and my personal struggles. Those who have taken pleasure in humiliating and in shaming me, shaming my family, shaming my friends, well, I really don’t understand why they want to do that.  It may be out of vengeance, it may be out of jealousy, it may be out of anger, it may be out of personal political benefit — I don’t know. But I would ask them to please stop now. Our state doesn’t need this anymore. Our people don’t need this anymore.

Exposing embarrassing details of my past personal life, as has happened in the past, and as I’m told will happen again, will not create one single job. It will not pass one budget, and will not help one child get a good education and will not help any child get good health care.

No matter what you may hear or see or be told about me, I can tell you this: All I’ve ever wanted or tried to do for our people is to just take care of them and to love them. All I’ve ever intended to do is to work hard and help our people get good jobs, be happy and raise a family and have a better life.

Once again, let me say: I do not plan to resign. I have done nothing illegal. If the people want to know if I misused state resources, the answer is simply no, I have not. With the strength that God gives me every day, with the blessed assurance that I have in my salvation in Jesus Christ, I have worked hard to move beyond any of my past mistakes. And especially this time of year at Easter, I am grateful that I serve a loving and forgiving God who loves me, and he loves each and every one of us unconditionally.

For the past several years I have struggled along with my family, along with my friends. We’ve all had personal struggles. Last year, I got to a point where I recognized and I realized I could not carry these burdens on my own. I got to the point where I knew I could not do this by myself. That day last May, I asked God to take these struggles and to help me carry these burdens. And I found freedom in that, and I completely gave him all of me, and I dedicated myself to depending on him. And with the prayer and opportunity God gives me, I’ve worked hard trying to restore and reconcile with my family, especially my boys who I love with all my heart. Once again, let me say to the people of this state how sorry I am to all of our people, to all of you. There’s no doubt that I have let you down, and all I ask is that you continue to pray for me, and I will continue to pray for you.

I actually forgive those who have hurt me, and I’m asking them to forgive me as well.

I’m doing what I believe God truly called me to do. That’s to work hard, and to serve our state and to serve and love the people of this great state of Alabama. God bless them, and may God bless this great state as I continue to try to serve in the way that God has placed me in this position.”

Gov. Bentley did not take questions afterward.