The City Hall Scandal, involving Nashville Mayor Megan Barry's two-year affair with police bodyguard Sgt. Rob Forrest, erupted after NewsChannel 5 Investigates began asking questions about the relationship.
Here is the timeline:
January 26, 2018
NewsChannel 5 submits request for records relating to Forrest’s travel and overtime, as well as the mayor’s communications with her security detail.
January 31, 2018
Barry admits the affair with her police bodyguard, Sgt. Rob Forrest -- first, in an exclusive interview with NewsChannel 5 Investigates. Her office releases the records requested by NewsChannel 5.
Her PR team later releases those same documents to other media. Barry holds an evening news conference.
Mayor Admits Affair With Police Bodyguard
Statement Released After Mayor Admits To Affair
Bodyguard Responds To News Of Affair With Mayor
Officials Respond To Mayor's Admission Of Affair
February 1, 2018
DA Glenn Funk asks the TBI to look into Barry's affair. NewsChannel 5 Investigates uncovers new pictures showing the two together on taxpayer-financed trips and data showing that Forrest charged taxpayers for overtime that amounted to 32 extra work weeks in 2017.
MorningLine: Repercussions of Mayor Affair
DA Asks TBI To Investigate Mayor's Use Of Funds
New Photos Show Nashville Mayor With Bodyguard
Beacon Center Calls For Investigation
Mayor Megan Barry Could Face Three Investigations
Transit Plan's Future Discussed Following Affair
Former Nashville Mayors React To Barry's Affair
Governor Haslam Responds To Mayor Barry's Affair
No Complaint Filed With Council Ethics Board
Mayor Denies Affair Is #MeToo Situation
February 2, 2018
NewsChannel 5 Investigates uncovers new details about some of the mayor's trips, as the Metro Council begins preparing for what could be an unprecedented investigation. They want to know whether Barry abused taxpayer money in her two-year affair with her police bodyguard.
Mayor's Spending May Be Investigated
Mayor's Lawyer: There Are No Other Affairs
Billboard: 'We Love Our Mayor'
Councilman: Mayor May Not Be Fit To Govern
Women's Film Group Contemplates Mayor's Scandal
February 4, 2018
Mayor Barry Makes 1st Appearance Since Admission
February 5, 2018
New information shows that Barry frequently traveled without security early in her term. But, as her affair intensified, she and Forrest began traveling together more frequently at taxpayer expense. NewsChannel 5 Investigates discovered Forrest's overtime made him the second-highest-paid person in the Metro Police Department in fiscal year 2017, just behind the chief.
Bodyguard Travel Increased As Affair Continued
Coalition Questions Mayor's Past Decisions
Committee Resolution Will Seek Outside Help
February 6, 2018
In a nearly unprecedented move, Metro City Council members vote to appoint a special committee which will investigate whether public funds were improperly used during Barry's two-year affair with her police bodyguard.
Committee To Investigate Mayor's Use Of Funds
Chance Of Criminal Charges Called 'Very Small'
Mayor's Office Defends Hiring Officer's Daughter
February 7, 2018
Ethics Complaint Filed On Mayor And Bodyguard
February 8, 2018
In a second exclusive interview, Mayor Barry tells NewsChannel 5 Investigates that she's prepared to write a check if investigators question any of her use of taxpayer money.
Nashville Mayor: 'I Just Want To Make It Right'
Inside Politics: Mayor Megan Barry
February 9, 2018
Documents released by the mayor's office show Forrest's travels with Barry were approved by Police Chief Steve Anderson. But the police department denied that ever happened. IT officials blame a computer glitch for registering the bogus approvals.
Documents Show Approvals That Never Happened
Mayor: Bodyguard Was 'Consummate Professional'
February 12, 2018
Vice Mayor Appoints Council's Special Committee
February 13, 2018
Auditor To Work With Committee Investigation
February 15, 2018
Council Begins Investigating Mayor's Spending
February 22, 2018
NewsChannel 5 Investigates uncovers security video showing that Mayor Barry and Sgt. Forrest found time alone in the early mornings in Nashville's historic City Cemetery. Meanwhile, a newly filed search warrant affidavit reveals that TBI agents have recovered two nude photographs of a woman taken by Forrest while he was being paid by taxpayers to protect Barry.
Video Shows Mayor, Bodyguard In City Cemetery
Nude Pics Found During TBI's Mayor Investigation
Ethics Board To Meet Following Complaint
February 23, 2018
Barry has surrendered the passcode for her personal phone to the TBI, her attorney says in a statement. Meanwhile, documents obtained by NewsChannel 5 Investigates show Barry's attorney asked DA Glenn Funk to recuse himself from the case.
Mayor Barry Surrenders Phone Passcode To TBI
TBI Obtains Video Uncovered By NewsChannel 5
Mayor's Lawyer Asks DA To Recuse Himself
Metro Council Not Taking Sides In Mayor Scandal
February 24, 2018
Bodyguard's Wife Files For Divorce After Affair
February 26, 2018
For weeks, Barry insisted she was just following police department policies for her security. But NewsChannel 5 Investigates discovers there was actually a written policy -- and it looks a lot different from what the mayor suggested.
Mayor's Use Of Security May Have Violated Policy
February 27, 2018
Poll: Mayor Barry Still Popular Despite Scandal
February 28, 2018
Tennessean: 'Time For Megan Barry To Resign'
March 1, 2018
Group Pledges Recall Petition For Mayor Barry
Law Firm Picked For Metro Council Investigation
March 6, 2017
Nashville Mayor Megan Barry resigned after pleading guilty to theft charges in criminal court. Barry pleaded guilty to theft of property over $10,000 -- a Class C Felony. She will pay $11,000 in restitution and serve three years' probation.
Barry Resigns After Pleading Guilty To Theft
Read: Megan Barry's Resignation Letter
David Briley Sworn In As Nashville Mayor
Bruce Barry Responds To Wife's Resignation
MNPD Responds To Barry, Forrest's Plea Deal
Former Mayors React To Megan Barry's Resignation
Beacon Center On Mayor Barry Resignation
7 Potential Candidates For Next Nashville Mayor
State Lawmakers React To Mayor Barry Resignation
Committee Continues Investigating Megan Barry
Megan Barry's Tenure As Mayor Ends In Scandal
Experts Discuss Barry's Resignation, Economy
March 7, 2018
Did Megan Barry Get What She Deserves?
Ethics Complaint Against Barry Moving Forward
New Mayor: What's Next For Nashville Transit
March 8, 2018
Board To Discuss Forrest's Pension After Plea
March 15, 2018
Rob Forrest Pays $45K Restitution
Aug. 22, 2018
Almost six months after Megan Barry's resignation as Nashville's mayor, a new audit is out on how much her affair cost the city. And the answer is: nobody knows.
