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Barry Claims Her Affair Broke No Laws, But Investigators Want To Make Sure

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More than three years have passed since former Mayor Megan Barry first promised to fully fund body cameras in Nashville. Metro Police still aren't wearing them.
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Nashville Mayor Megan Barry could face multiple investigations in the wake of an extramarital affair she had with the head of her security detail. What’s being called into question is the use of taxpayer money for trips she took with her former bodyguard as well as thousands of dollars in overtime pay he received.


 


When Barry came clean last week about her affair with Sgt. Rob Forrest, she apologized for her actions but assured citizens that her conduct was not outside the law.

 

undefinedundefinedSince then, Nashville’s District Attorney undefinedundefinedasked state investigators to look into the Mayor’s nearly two year affairundefinedundefined. He wants to know if the illicit relationship led to breaking any laws, including misappropriation of public funds and official misconduct. undefinedundefined

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undefinedundefinedAnd on Friday, two council members started their undefinedundefinedown push for an investigationundefinedundefined. Council members Bob Mendes and Tanaka Vercher are co-sponsoring a resolution to establish a special committee. It would have subpoena power to investigate travel and overtime expenses tied to Mayor Barry’s affair. undefinedundefinedThe Tennessean reportedundefinedundefined that more than $33,000 was spent on trips where Forrest provided security for Barry in 2017.undefinedundefined

 

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undefinedBoth inquiries come after undefinedundefinedquestions were raisedundefinedundefined regarding nine trips Barry took alone with Forrest, some of which extended days beyond any scheduled work events. There is also the question of Forrest’s spike in overtime compared to his work under previous mayors. undefined

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undefinedundefinedundefinedWSMV reported thatundefinedundefined while protecting Mayor Barry, Forrest’s overtime almost doubled compared to when he worked for former Mayor Karl Dean. Between 2016 and 2017, Forrest put in more than 1,200 hours of overtime and earned a salary of more than $157,000.undefinedundefined

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undefinedundefinedLast week, Barry said the overtime matched up with her aggressive schedule.  undefinedundefined

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undefinedundefinedMultiple media outlets are also investigating. Barry has said she welcomes the scrutiny. undefinedundefined

 

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Meribah Knight, Senior Reporter/Producer of Special Projects

Meribah Knight is a senior reporter and producer at Nashville Public Radio. She’s the host and creator of the Peabody Award-winning podcast, The Promise as well as Serial’s recent podcast The Kids of Rutherford County.

Her reporting on race and inequality in public schools prompted a wholesale shift in enrollment and attitudes toward school choice in one Nashville neighborhood. And her reporting on the juvenile justice system in Rutherford County, Tenn., led to the retirement of its juvenile judge and new oversight of its juvenile detention center.

Knight has received numerous national awards for her reporting, including the George Foster Peabody Award and the George Polk Award. Knight was also a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, the Goldsmith Award, and twice a finalist for a National Magazine Award. Knight received her master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University.

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