Mayor Barry announces her resignation at the Metro Courthouse, March 2018
Mayor Megan Barry resigned this morning amid scandal surrounding her affair with her former chief bodyguard, Sgt. Rob Forrest.
Barry announced her resignation shortly after 10 a.m. at the Davidson County Courthouse. Earlier in the morning, she pleaded guilty in Davidson County Criminal Court to theft of more than $10,000. She will face three years of probation and reimburse the city $11,000.
Vice Mayor David Briley will assume the office until a special election is held in August.
"It has been my honor and it has been the privilege of my entire life to have the blessing and the opportunity to be your mayor,” Barry said in a brief statement before a packed with media. “I thank you in advance for the support I'm sure you'll give Mayor Briley in the weeks and months ahead."
“I love you, Nashville,” she said in closing. She did not take questions.
Shortly after Barry delivered her statement, Forrest appeared in court and agreed to a similar plea deal. He pleaded guilty to criminal theft and will reimburse Metro $45,000 that was paid to him as salary or overtime when he was not performing his official duties.
“This is a hard day for Nashville,” Briley said in a statement issued late this morning. “Mayor Barry’s resignation will enable us to regain focus on the important work of our city. My pledge is simple: As mayor, I will begin work immediately with a sole focus on managing the city and making progress on community priorities. That work will be transparent and be conducted with every effort to restore public trust, and move our great city forward.”
Barry’s resignation comes after Forrest, a 31-year veteran of the Metro Nashville Police Department, retired in late January. Forrest had supervised security for former Nashville mayors Bill Purcell and Karl Dean before leading Barry's detail.
Since then, Barry has fielded a string of questions involving her relationship with Forrest. In late February, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation told a Nashville judge it had reason to believe Barry and Forrest conducted their admitted affair at least partially while Forrest was on the clock.
The TBI, tasked by District Attorney Glenn Funk with investigating the matter, filed an affidavit in support of a search warrant seeking Barry’s cell phone.
With Metro budget hearings looming, Metro Council Budget Committee Chair Tanaka Vercher said it was important "now more than ever" to "come together as a city and stay focused."
"We still have to pass a budget and do the work for the city — all of which will require unity and focus," said Vercher.
This post will update.
