Reagan FarrNASHVILLE - Former Tennessee Revenue Commissioner Reagan Farr has been cleared of all criminal wrongdoing in his handling of several business' sales tax investigations following a nearly yearlong state probe, officials announced today.
In a joint statement, Davidson County District Attorney General Torry Johnson and 15th Judicial District Attorney General Tommy Thompson said a Tennessee Bureau of Investigation probe turned up no evidence of actions to justify criminal charges against the former Bredesen administration Cabinet member.
"Allegations of possible public corruption are always taken seriously; however, in this situation, it appears the claims were the result of policy differences within the department and not any criminal conduct on the part of the former commissioner," Johnson said in a statement.
A staffer in the office of Thompson, who had initially sought the investigation, referred a reporter's questions to Johnson's office.
The review of Farr's office was started in August 2010 amid questions over how sales tax investigations of some businesses were handled. The revenue commissioner oversees tax collections and investigations for the state.
Farr left the Revenue Department on Sept. 1 to pursue opportunities in the private sector.