(Nashville, TN 7/22/2009) State Sen. Paul Stanley has resigned as chairman of the powerful Senate Commerce Committee following revelations that he was the target of an alleged extortion plot.
The Germantown Republican wrote in a letter to Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey on Wednesday that he will step down from his chairmanship "in light of recent events," but will remain in the Senate.
Nashville prosecutors have charged Joel Watts with trying to extort $10,000 from Stanley, threatening to reveal the lawmaker's alleged extramarital affair.
Stanley contacted the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and wore a wire to his April meeting with Watts to exchange the money for a disc of photos allegedly taken in the senator's apartment.
Nashville General Sessions Judge Dianne Turner on Monday bound the case over to the grand jury.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
The Germantown Republican wrote in a letter to Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey on Wednesday that he will step down from his chairmanship "in light of recent events," but will remain in the Senate.
Stanley contacted the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and wore a wire to his April meeting with Watts to exchange the money for a disc of photos allegedly taken in the senator's apartment.
Nashville General Sessions Judge Dianne Turner on Monday bound the case over to the grand jury.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
