Tennessee Senate Expels Sitting Senator Over Ethics Code Violation

Photo Credit: Katrina Robinson – Facebook / capitol.tn.gov

The Tennessee Conservative [By Paula Gomes] –

Lt. Gov. Randy McNally along with several senators said yesterday that Katrina Robinson’s expulsion from the senate was the first in the 226 year history of the state Senate.

The expulsion was recommended by a Senate Ethics Committee after they determined that Robinson (D-Memphis) had violated the Senate’s code of ethics. The state’s full Senate voted along party lines, 27-5 to oust the senator.

While the committee and the Senate are not a court of law, Senator Ferrell Haile (R-Gallatin) who presented the committee’s report said their job was to “maintain and enhance the integrity of the Senate.”

Robinson was convicted of four counts of wire fraud in a federal court but was acquitted on two counts in January. This formed the basis for the expulsion. Her sentencing is scheduled for March 3rd.

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Appearing before the Senate yesterday, Robinson and two lawyers asked for a 30-day delay in the Senate proceeding, due to the two convictions amounting to $3,400 in misappropriated funds and because she has not yet been sentenced. Robinson said she would resign if the convictions stood.

While the Senate voted on delaying, a majority was needed and the motion failed due to the vote being split evenly 16-16.

During the meeting, Robinson pointed to other members of the State Senate who have been accused of crimes but not brought before the ethics committee. Senator Brian Kelsey (R-Germantown) has been indicted for allegedly funneling funds from his state account to his failed 2016 congressional campaign, in violation of federal law. And Senator Joey Hensley (R-Hohenwald) admitted to prescribing controlled substances for a cousin with whom he was having a sexual relationship after state investigators testified against him.

McNally issued a statement after the vote. ““While the expulsion of a Senator for the first time in history was not something any of us wished to see, it was a necessary action,” he said. “The integrity of the Senate is of paramount importance. Senator Robinson was given every consideration and due process. The Senate could have acted immediately following her conviction. The Senate instead allowed her time to pursue every legal motion and all have been considered by the court.”

Robinson was given time to reflect and resign by the Senate who initially delayed taking action but she chose not to step down. Instead she called the vote a “procedural lynching.”

“This procedure is not even worth my presence … because the decision has already been made,” Robinson said. “This is a show.” But Senator John Stevens (R-Huntingdon), member of the ethics committee, said that even before her sentencing, Robinson was found guilty by a Tennessee jury.

Robinson had only served her Senatorial district since 2018.

About the Author: Paula Gomes is a Tennessee resident and reporter for The Tennessee Conservative. You can reach Paula at paula@tennesseeconservativenews.com.