Ron Ramsey Says Senate Should Stay Out Of Investigation Into Nashville DA Glenn Funk

Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey says lawmakers should stay out of the controversy swirling around Davidson County prosecutor Glenn Funk, at least for now.

Ramsey says the state legislature could consider removing Funk from office if allegations that he improperly inflated his government pension are shown to be true. But he adds lawmakers shouldn’t conduct their own investigation.

“Right now you’ve got the Metro Council looking into this, you’ve got the comptroller looking into this, the Board of Professional Responsibility are looking into this. Let’s kind of let that work out over the next month or so or however long that takes.”

Funk is accused of accepting a job as a part-time prosecutor prior to his election as district attorney this summer in order to move up his start date as a government employee. That enabled him to join the public pension system before employee contribution requirements went into effect.

Funk denies all wrongdoing, but in a letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday, he apologized for the appearance of impropriety. Funk also promised to re-enroll in the pension system under the current rules.

The committee has asked Funk to appear next week. Ramsey says it’s “an excellent question” whether that’s a step too far for lawmakers.