CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) - A Tennessee county commissioner running for re-election has been accused of threatening his opponent to drop out of the race.
News outlets report a grand jury indicted Hamilton County Commissioner Tim Boyd on one count of extortion. He turned himself in to authorities Wednesday morning and posted a $2,500 bond before returning to his seat at the commission’s meeting hours later.
Boyd was charged with the felony after a Tennessee Bureau of Investigation probe into an allegation that he threatened to release potentially damaging information about East Ridge Mayor Brent Lambert.
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Lambert said in a statement that evidence will be available soon about the threats.
Boyd denies threatening Lambert and says he was only giving Lambert advice.
It’s unclear if a court date will be scheduled before the May 1 Republican primary.
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