Tag: Glenn Funk

FACT CHECK of Tennessee House Speaker Sexton Claim that Alleged Killer of Belmont Freshman Would Have Been in Custody Had State Senate Acted: FALSE

Michael Patrick Leahy

In an in-depth interview on Friday, WTN SuperTalk 99.7 afternoon host Matt Murphy spoke with Tennessee Speaker of the House Cameron Sexton about the shooting and death of Belmont University student Jillian Ludwig. The Tennessee Star conducted a FACT CHECK of Speaker Sexton’s claim in that interview that Shaquille Taylor, the alleged killer of 18-year-old Belmont University Jillian Ludwig, who was shot in the head on Tuesday and died on Thursday, would have been in custody if the Tennessee State Senate had passed legislation in the August Special Session that the House had passed. The Star determined that Sexton’s claim is FALSE. The transcript of that interview and the corresponding FACT CHECKS conducted by The Star can be seen below. ——————- Matt Murphy: So, obviously, we’ve been covering this very difficult story involving the passing of a Belmont University student by the name of Lillian, or Jillian, pardon me, Jillian Ludwig, who died Thursday, yesterday morning after being shot in the head while walking near campus Tuesday. EDITOR’S NOTE: Prior to allegedly shooting Belmont University freshman Jillian Taylor in the head on Tuesday, November 7, 2023, Shaquille Taylor was deemed incompetent to stand trial for aggravated assault with a deadly…

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Private Schools Seek to Argue Against Release of Records in Covenant Killer Manifesto Lawsuit

M.D. Kittle

Four Nashville private schools are seeking entry into a nationally watched public records lawsuit that demands the release of the Covenant School killer’s manifesto and related documents. 

Attorneys for Franklin Road Academy, Montgomery Bell Academy, Oak Hill School, and St. Paul Christian Academy filed a motion on Monday asking Davidson County Chancellor I’Ashea Myles for permission to file an amicus — friend of the court  — brief in the lawsuit. 

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Davidson County District Attorney General Seeks to File Amicus Brief in Records Lawsuit Bolstering Argument to Block Covenant Killer’s Manifesto Release

M.D. Kittle

Davidson County District Attorney General Glenn Funk filed an amicus — friend of the court — brief on Monday in the nationally watched public records lawsuit over the Covenant killer’s manifesto and related documents. Funk, as attorneys for the parents of students at the Covenant Presbyterian School do, argues that the parents are victims and entitled to certain rights. 

Attorneys for family members of the students and staff argue those rights allow them to keep the documents locked from the public, a controversial legal theory that plaintiffs in the lawsuit say could have a chilling effect on Tennessee’s public records laws. 

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Nashville DA’s Office Installs Listening Devices In What Seems a Troubling Secret Recording Trend

M.D. Kittle

Listening devices have been installed in areas around the Nashville District Attorney’s office, according to news reports. The revelations come as similar recording devices are popping up in other government buildings across the country in what privacy experts say is a troubling trend of citizen monitoring. 

District Attorney Glenn Funk’s team did not dispute the findings of a NewsChannel 5 investigation, the news outlet reported.

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New Bill Proposal Would Temporarily Replace District Attorney Who Refuses to Enforce Laws

Morgan Nicole Veysey

New legislation has been discussed in the Tennessee General Assembly focusing on District Attorneys that do not enforce laws. On Wednesday, Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville-25) proposed new legislation.

Sexton’s proposed bill states that:

District Attorneys – As introduced, allows the attorney general and reporter to petition the court for appointment of a district attorney general pro tem if a district attorney general peremptorily and categorically refuses to prosecute all instances of a criminal offense without regard to facts or circumstances; requires the court to appoint a district attorney general pro tem if the court finds the district attorney general has refused to attend and prosecute according to law.

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Nashville DA Refuses to Enforce Tennessee’s Transgender Bathroom Sign Law

Corinne Murdock

Nashville’s District Attorney Glenn Funk won’t enforce Tennessee’s new transgender bathroom signage law, posing a direct challenge to the state legislature and Governor Bill Lee. The governor signed the bill into law last week; it will go into effect on July 1. In a statement shared with The Tennessee Star, Funk asserted that the law represents hate.

“I believe every person is welcome and valued in Nashville,” asserted Funk. “Enforcement of transphobic or homophobic laws is contrary to those values. My office will not promote hate.”

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Davidson County Woman Must Repay TennCare in Fraud Plea Deal

Chris Butler

A Davidson County woman is ordered to repay the state after she entered a plea agreement on charges involving TennCare fraud. This, according to a press release from the Tennessee Department of Finance and Administration. The Office of Inspector General this week announced that 38-year old Heather Ann Pitts of Nashville pleaded guilty to charges stemming from allegedly claiming a minor child as a dependent in order to qualify for healthcare insurance benefits through TennCare. Without a child as a dependent, she would not have been eligible for the program. She pleaded guilty to TennCare fraud, theft of services over $10,000 and theft of services over $60,000. In exchange for the plea, Pitts is ordered to pay TennCare $18,000.00 in restitution and she received three consecutive sentences of 11 months and 29 days of supervised probation, according to the press release. “Providing false information in order to receive TennCare benefits is a crime,” Inspector General Kim Harmon said in the press release. “The Office of Inspector General works diligently to preserve the integrity of TennCare benefits, so that those truly deserving of and eligible for TennCare have the best resources.” TennCare fraud is now a class D felony punishable by…

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Left-Wing Activist Justin Jones Walks Away, Knowing He Won’t Face Trial for Allegedly Disrupting Marsha Blackburn Rally

Chris Butler

As it turns out, left-wing activist and Vanderbilt Divinity School student Justin Jones won’t face any consequences for allegedly disrupting a Marsha Blackburn rally in Nashville last fall. Stephen Hayslip, spokesman for Nashville District Attorney Glenn Funk, confirmed the information to The Tennessee Star in an emailed statement Tuesday — but he offered no other comment. A judge dismissed Jones’ case in that matter Tuesday. Jones, on his Facebook page Tuesday afternoon, seemed to delight in the news. “The case from being arrested at Marsha Blackburn’s rally was dismissed by the judge,” Jones wrote. “Grateful for the friends who showed up from church, school, and the community, my lawyer Nick, and the cloud of witnesses surrounding us in prayers. There is much work to do to redeem the soul of this state- to make sure the rights and dignity of all people are respected, protected, and never neglected.” Nicholas Kiefer, courts director for state trial courts in Davidson County, said Dianne Turner, the judge who dismissed Jones’ case. “My information says it was a flat dismissal,” Kiefer said, adding he had little else to add. Turner, according to Ballotpedia, is a Democrat judge in Davidson County’s General Sessions Court Division…

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Left-Wing Activist Justin Jones Says Nashville DA Glenn Funk Treats Him Unfairly

Chris Butler

Justin Jones, the left-wing protester charged with assaulting Tennessee Speaker of the House Glen Casada, said on social media this week that members of Nashville District Attorney General Glenn Funk’s office treat him unfairly. As The Tennessee Star reported this week, members of Funk’s office filed to revoke Jones’ bond. Jones attends Vanderbilt Divinity School. Last week, Jones allegedly threw a beverage — possibly coffee — at Casada and State Rep. Debra Moody, R-Covington. Jones was already out on bond for allegedly disrupting a Marsha Blackburn for U.S. Senate rally in Nashville last October. Jones, though, said members of Funk’s office filed to revoke his bond, not because officers arrested him a second time, but because he allegedly contacted Casada after the second arrest. As The Star reported, court officials ordered Jones to have no contact with Casada or Moody. On his Twitter page this week, Jones said this: “The DA filed a motion to revoke my bond on the basis of false evidence from the Speaker’s Office,” Jones said. “They claim I sent him an email on March 1st- when I did not. I urge the DA to release this alleged email to the media and public, since it…

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Nashville District Attorney’s Office Files to Revoke Bond for Left-Wing Activist Justin Jones, Records Show

Chris Butler

Members of Nashville District Attorney General Glenn Funk’s office have filed a motion to revoke the bond for left-wing activist Justin Jones, according to an official with the Davidson County Criminal Court Clerk’s Office. This, as Jones is out on bond for allegedly disrupting a Marsha Blackburn for U.S. Senate rally in Nashville last October. As The Tennessee Star reported last week, authorities arrested Jones last Thursday after he allegedly threw a drink at Tennessee Speaker of the House Glen Casada at the state capitol. Jones goes by his full name, Justin Bautista-Jones, in his arrest docket, said Nicholas Kiefer, courts director for state trial courts. Someone in Funk’s office filed the motion to revoke Jones’ bond late Monday, Kiefer said. “Basically, at this point, until a judge has a hearing on it, nothing [will happen],” Kiefer said. “What will happen is either on his [Jones’] next court date, or, if the parties decide to set a court date that is sooner, the court will hear arguments related to that motion from the state and from the defense and then the court will issue whatever ruling it deems fit.” Jones’ next court appearance from his arrest last fall — a…

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Left-Wing Activist Justin Jones No Longer Welcome at Tennessee Capitol

Chris Butler

Authorities have banned left-wing activist Justin Jones from entering the Tennessee capitol in Nashville, after he allegedly threw a beverage – possibly coffee – on Tennessee Speaker of the House Glen Casada and another state legislator Thursday. The ban, however, is apparently not permanent, at least not until Jones’ case is resolved. On top of that, Jones may have additional legal woes. Members of the office of Nashville District Attorney General Glenn Funk told The Tennessee Star they will review whether to revoke or increase Justin Jones’ bond from his arrest last fall. Law enforcement officers arrested Jones last October for allegedly disrupting a Marsha Blackburn rally at the Ray Stevens CabaRay Showroom in Nashville. The Star obtained documents from the Davidson County General Sessions Night Court, prepared specifically to deal with Jones’ latest arrest. According to those documents, authorities released Jones after he posted $4,150 bond. Night Court Commissioner Marie Stacey handled Jones’ case. The county’s Pre-Trial Services Department will now supervise him. Court officials ordered Jones to have no contact with Casada or with the other legislator Jones allegedly assaulted, State Rep. Debra Moody, R-Covington. Jones must also stay away from the state capitol building and the Cordell Hull…

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Dr. Carol M. Swain Commentary: White Officer’s Defense is Not Comparable to Nuremberg

Admin

by Dr. Carol M. Swain   How we talk about race does matter: Leaders have a responsibility to avoid fanning the flames of racism for political advantage, such as what’s happening in Nashville, Tennessee, where a familiar national story is repeating itself. You know the storyline by now: A white police officer shoots and kills a black man who is running away from the officer—it’s a multiple tragedy on several fronts. The national media then goes overboard in reporting the story, as in this case with the likes of Newsweek and The New York Times among those amping up coverage of the Nashville shooting. It’s a tragedy for the deceased, Daniel Hambrick, 25, and his family, which going forward is denied his presence and fellowship. It’s a tragedy for the Nashville community and for America as a whole, as well as for Andrew Delke, the 25-year-old police officer who fired the fatal shots. It’s also a tragedy for the city and nation when Glenn Funk, the prosecutor in the case, decided to use incendiary and hyperbolic language at a preliminary hearing about whether criminal charges against the officer will advance. Not hesitant to demonstrate his foolishness, Funk argued that Delke’s…

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Left-Wing Activist Justin Jones Scheduled for Prosecution in March for Disrupting Marsha Blackburn Rally

Chris Butler

Members of the Davidson County District Attorney General’s office are scheduled to prosecute left-wing activist Justin Jones in March on charges of criminal trespass and resisting arrest, according to a spokesman for that office. Jones, a Vanderbilt Divinity School student, seems to claim he is a victim of political persecution. In a story that made national headlines, Jones caused a scene at a campaign rally for then-U.S. Senate Republican candidate Marsha Blackburn in late October. Blackburn won the election the following month and has since taken the oath of office. Authorities charged Jones with criminal trespassing and resisting arrest for disrupting the Blackburn event at the Ray Stevens’ CabaRay Showroom in Nashville. Blackburn appeared at the event alongside U.S. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina. Stephen Hayslip, spokesman for Davidson County District Attorney General Glenn Funk, confirmed in an email to The Tennessee Star Friday that Funk’s office will prosecute Jones. Jones himself went into greater detail on his Facebook page Friday. “We have been set for a hearing on Tuesday, March 18th at 9 AM in courtroom 5D. It is deeply troubling that a democratically elected official is choosing to carry the extremist mantle of suppressing people from…

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Nashville Police Get New Warrant, Arrest Justin Jones for Criminal Trespassing and Resisting Arrest After Outburst at Marsha Blackburn Rally

Chris Butler

Nashville authorities have arrested left-wing activist Justin Jones three days after he caused an outburst at Sunday’s Marsha Blackburn rally in Nashville. After Metro Nashville Police took Jones into custody Sunday and drove him downtown, Nashville Night Court Commissioner Carolyn Piphus refused law enforcement’s request to issue an arrest warrant to Jones on charges of criminal trespassing, resisting arrest, and disorderly conduct, as reported by The Tennessee Star. All three charges are misdemeanors. Later in the week, however, members of the office of Nashville District Attorney General Glenn Funk reviewed available evidence, including videos of Jones’ behavior. They agreed with law enforcement that arrest warrants were appropriate, said Nashville Police Spokesman Don Aaron. “Mr. Jones resides within the East Precinct and officers from East attempted to serve the outstanding warrants during their shift Tuesday evening,” Aaron told The Tennessee Star. “He was not home at the time.  Mr. Jones surrendered himself for booking late this afternoon downtown.” Authorities charged Jones with criminal trespassing and resisting arrest. For unknown reasons, authorities decided not to go forward with the disorderly conduct charge, Aaron said. District Attorney General’s Office Spokesman Steve Hayslip said the new warrants came about after Assistant District Attorney Deb Smith…

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