Acting TBI director accused of 'misuse of state funds' during affair, investigation is underway

Acting TBI Director Jason Locke is the subject of an investigation after he was accused of misusing state money, a spokeswoman for Gov. Bill Haslam said Monday.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury the Tennessee Department of Safety, and Nashville District Attorney Glenn Funk are all communicating about the matter, according to officials.

Haslam spokeswoman Jennifer Donnals said Haslam's office received emailed complaints from Kim Locke, Jason Locke's wife, Friday. In the emails, Kim Locke outlined her concerns that her husband had used state funds during an affair with another state employee.

She asked the governor for help, noting she was "afraid that I'm in danger."

Kim Locke shared similar information with The Tennessean and other news outlets.

Donnals said the governor's office forwarded the information to the Department of Safety for review. She referred all other questions to the state comptroller.

Investigators are looking into "the accusation of misuse of state funds" after the complaint was submitted, TBI spokesman Josh DeVine said in a statement.

More: Knoxville Police Chief David Rausch named the TBI's new director

“The TBI has been made aware of, and takes seriously, the accusations involving Acting Director Jason Locke,” DeVine said.

DeVine did not say if Jason Locke had been placed on leave.

Funk's office released a statement Monday afternoon saying Nashville prosecutors had been "in communication" with the Comptroller of the Treasury and the Department of Safety.

Kim Locke's complaints are reminiscent of those against former Nashville Mayor Megan Barry, who in March pleaded guilty to felony theft following a TBI investigation that found she misused public money during an affair with the head of her police security detail.

Lebanon attorney Jeff Cherry said he was retained midday Monday to represent Jason Locke. But he declined to comment on any details surrounding the investigation.

"I haven't seen the complaint. I don't have the benefit of knowing what the allegation is from a formal perspective," Cherry said in a phone interview. "I just know that there has been a complaint."

Jason Locke, an employee at the TBI for 21 years, had been overseeing work at the agency after former director Mark Gwyn retired earlier this year.

Locke was one of three candidates vying to replace Gwyn — he was recommended for final consideration by all five members of a commission tasked with selecting finalists for the job.

But soon after Haslam's office confirmed the investigation, the governor announced he had selected Knoxville police Chief David B. Rausch to lead the agency starting June 25.