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Nashville Mayor Pleads Guilty To Felony Theft, Admits Affair With Bodyguard
Nashville Mayor Megan Barry, a Democrat, has resigned the same day she pleaded guilty to theft in court.
Talk about a scandal.
Nashville Mayor Megan Barry announced her resignation at a press conference on Tuesday, the same day she pleaded guilty in court for felony theft of $10,000.
In January, Barry, confessed that she had an extramarital affair with the head of her security detail, Sgt. Rob Forrest, for two years, CNN reported.
The felony charge is related to the sex scandal, as the affair brought attention to travel and other expenses made while she and her bodyguard spent time together, according to the Tennessean. It also shined a light on overtime that Forrest was accruing. Barry, a Democrat, was sentenced to three years of probation. As part of her plea deal, she must reimburse the city $11,000.
During Tuesday’s press conference, Barry, 54, told reporters: "While my time of mayor today concludes, my unwavering love and sincere affection for this wonderful city and its great people will never come to an end. No one is as excited about this city and its bright and limitless future as I am. It has been my honor and it has been the privilege of my entire professional life to have the blessing and the opportunity to be your mayor. I thank you in advance for the support that I am sure you will give Mayor [David] Briley in the weeks and the months ahead. God bless this wonderful city. I love you, Nashville."
She also tweeted out a similar sentiment, which links to another statement, also echoing the same feelings. In her resignation letter, she called her experience as mayor the “honor of a lifetime.”
Forrest has apologized through his lawyer in the form of a statement, according to the Washington Post: “I deeply regret that my professional relationship with Mayor Barry turned into a personal one. This has caused great pain for my wife, my family, friends and colleagues. At no time did I ever violate my oath as a police officer or engage in actions that would abuse the public trust.”
It wasn’t just his wife that Forrest had to answer to. He also pleaded guilty to felony theft charge. He has to reimburse the city the $45,000 that was paid to him when he was not performing work duties, according to NBC News.
[Photo: Metropolitan Nashville Police Department]
