J. Chris Newton (born November 9, 1970) is an American politician who served as a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives. A Republican, he represented the 22nd district, which includes Meigs, Polk, and parts of Bradley counties. He resigned in 2005 after being charged in Operation Tennessee Waltz.
Chris Newton | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Newton being filmed unknowingly as part of Operation Tennessee Waltz | |
| Member of the Tennessee House of Representatives from the 22nd district | |
| In office January 10, 1995 – September 1, 2005 | |
| Preceded by | Richard Fisher |
| Succeeded by | Eric Watson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 9, 1970 |
| Party | Republican |
| Education | University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (BS) |
| Website | House website |
Background
editJ. Chris Newton was born on November 9, 1970. He received a Bachelor of Science in political science from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. He worked as a sales manager.[1]
Newton was first elected in 1994, taking office the following January as part of the 99th General Assembly.[1] In May 2005, Newton, along with several fellow lawmakers, was arrested and charged with bribery in the Operation Tennessee Waltz scandal.[2]
He announced his resignation on September 1, 2005 under pressure from the state Republican Party,[3] and on February 22, 2006, was sentenced to one year in prison.[4] He served nine months in the minimum security prison camp at the United States Penitentiary in Atlanta.[5] He was the only Republican charged in the operation.[6]
As of 2015, Newton was reported to be working as a businessman in the Cleveland area.[6]
Personal life
editReferences
edit- 1 2 3 "J.Chris Newton". legislature.state.tn.us. Tennessee General Assembly. Archived from the original on July 21, 1997. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
- ↑ Emery, Theo (January 11, 2006). "Tennessee Takes Up an Overhaul of Ethics Rules". The New York Times. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
- ↑ "Chris Newton Moves Up Resignation". Chattanoogan.com. September 1, 2005.
- ↑ "Newton sentenced in Tennessee Waltz case". WMC-TV. February 22, 2006. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
- ↑ "TN Waltz defendant Chris Newton out of jail and living in halfway house". WMC-TV. January 26, 2007. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
- 1 2 "Tennessee Waltz scandal: Where are they now?". The Tennessean. May 25, 2015. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
- ↑ "J. Chris Newton". capitol.tn.gov. Tennessee General Assembly. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
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