KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – The Latest on the trial of state Rep. Joe Armstrong (all times local):
4:15 p.m.
The Tennessee Black Caucus of State Legislators is expressing disappointment in the conviction of longtime state Rep. Joe Armstrong of Knoxville.
The group made up of three senators and 14 House members – including Armstrong – in a statement Monday thanked the lawmaker for nearly 30 years of service.
According to the chairwoman, Rep. Breda Gilmore of Nashville, “Armstrong was a tireless warrior for the disenfranchised of this state and his experience will be missed in the Tennessee General Assembly.”
A federal jury earlier on Monday convicted Armstrong on one felony count of fraud for filing a false tax return. He was acquitted on charges of conspiracy and tax evasion related to an investment into cigarette tax stamps before a state law was passed to increase the tax.
___
2:30 p.m.
Tennessee election officials say state Rep. Joe Armstrong’s felony conviction means he will be disqualified from appearing on the ballot in November.
Adam Ghassemi, a spokesman for the secretary of state’s office, says that the Democratic Party can name a replacement for Armstrong until 40 days before the election. The deadline to make that nomination will be noon on Sept. 29.
Armstrong was convicted in federal court Monday on one count of fraud for filing a false tax return. He was acquitted on charges of conspiracy and tax evasion related to an investment into cigarette tax stamps before a state law was passed to increase the tax.
State Democratic Party Chair Mary Mancini says she is taking steps to remove Armstrong from office and to replace him on the ballot.
___
1:45 p.m.
Tennessee Democrats are looking to remove a state lawmaker from office after he was convicted of fraud and replace him on the ballot this November.
A federal jury on Monday convicted Democratic Rep. Joe Armstrong on one felony count of fraud related to filing a false tax return. The lawmaker was acquitted of two other counts of conspiracy and tax evasion.
State Democratic Party Chairwoman Mary Mancini said after the verdict that “the justice system has now ruled and we will take whatever appropriate action necessary to remove Rep. Armstrong from office.”
Republican leaders had been circulating a petition to call a special legislative session to oust Armstrong along with state Republican Rep. Jeremy Durham, who was the subject of an attorney general’s sexual harassment investigation. But the petition fell well short of the signatures needed before a Friday deadline.
___
1:15 p.m.
A Tennessee lawmaker who didn’t pay taxes on a more than $300,000 windfall from an investment into cigarette tax stamps has been convicted of filing a false tax return, but acquitted of tax evasion and conspiracy charges.
Media reported that the jury in Knoxville returned the verdict on Monday in the case against state Rep. Joe Armstrong.
Prosecutors alleged that the Democratic lawmaker of nearly three decades conspired with his accountant to hide the transaction linked to a 2007 cigarette tax hike that Armstrong had advocated and voted for.
Armstrong took to the stand on Friday to testify that he had been swindled by the accountant, who pleaded guilty to a related fraud charge last year and testified on behalf of the prosecution.