"My time today as your mayor concludes," Nashville Mayor Megan Barry said Tuesday after pleading guilty to felony theft of property amounting to more than $10,000. The resignation comes after she admitted last month to having an extramarital affair with the former head of her security detail, Sgt. Rob Forrest, that dates back to 2016. At the time, her travel expenses came under scrutiny. The Tennessean reported that the two racked up more than $33,000 in expenses over the course of 10 months. She initially denied improperly using taxpayer money.As Nashville Public Radio reported, since then, "multiple investigations have been ramping up in recent weeks about whether Forrest and Barry broke any laws."In court on Tuesday morning, Barry entered her plea of guilty on allegations that between March 2016 and January 2018, she unlawfully expended over $10,000 of Nashville city funds on Forrest."Are those facts basically true?" the judge asked Barry, in video posted by The Tennessean."Yes, sir," she replied. At a news conference later that morning, she thanked her supporters and called it a privilege to serve as mayor. "My unwavering love and sincere affection for this wonderful city and its great people will never come to an end," she said. "I sincerely hope and believe that my own actions will not tarnish or detract from all of the great work" that her staff does, she told reporters. Barry did not take questions.Nashville Public Radio reports that Barry has faced growing pressure since the revelation of her affair. Here's more from the member station:
Nashville Mayor Resigns, Pleads Guilty To Felony Theft
