TN Ethics Panel Advances Ouster Of Convicted Memphis Senator

The Republican-led Tennessee Senate’s ethics committee on Thursday recommended removing a Democratic senator from office because of her recent wire fraud conviction, pressing ahead over her objections that she had short notice of the hearing and is still awaiting sentencing.

The panel voted to move Sen. Katrina Robinson’s case in front of the full Senate at a yet-to-be-announced date. The Memphis Democrat said she was notified of the hearing last Friday but was denied a delay that her attorney requested because of a scheduling conflict, leaving her without legal counsel at Thursday’s hearing. The panel previously found probable cause to remove her during a closed-door session.