JACKSON, Tenn. - A federal affidavit filed with a search warrant used by the FBI to gather evidence at the Henderson County Jail last week said Sheriff Brian Duke is accused of coercing witnesses and withholding evidence.
Brian Duke has not been charged and FBI officials declined to tell The Jackson Sun who was the subject of the investigation. However, the search warrant says the case will likely be presented to a federal grand jury.
The affidavit says that agents learned about an assault on an inmate last year and when authorities started asking questions about it, Duke tried to coerce witness statements and urged the inmate not to speak to agents.
Duke's attorney, Nashville attorney Dan Warlick, said he believes the timing is politically motivated because the sheriff will face off against Republican challengers in the May 4 primary election.