The Great Smoky Mountain Journal

Staff, Wire Reports

Posted: Sunday, January 21, 2018 07:25 PM

Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett Responds To Rumors Of FBI Questioning

On December 1, Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett responded to a news article that linked him to possible FBI questioning.

The article was published in the Tennessean on December 1 and claimed that several sources, including the mayor's ex-wife Allison Burchett, stepped forward to say that they'd been questioned by the FBI about Burchett.

His office released a statement which said in part, "It's a shame to have my integrity and leadership called into question in a news story that leans heavily on the words of my now-convicted ex-wife and other anonymous sources."

According to the mayor's office, Burchett had no knowledge of any potential questioning or investigation. "Until my office was contacted by a Nashville reporter midday yesterday, I was unaware of any alleged inquiry," Burchett said.

He decried its existence and asked the FBI to comment directly on the matter: "I do not believe any such inquiry exists, and I ask the FBI to publicly state whether or not it does."

The Knoxville FBI field office released a statement saying : "Unfortunately, DOJ policy prohibits us from confirming or denying the existence of an investigation."

In an interview separate from the released statement he said, "To say that the FBI is doing an investigation, I welcome it. We are an open book here."