Anonymous robocall bashes Burchett over reported FBI investigation

A Tuesday night robocall to some Knox County residents slammed Knox County Mayor and Second Congressional candidate Tim Burchett over reports that he faces an FBI investigation, reports the News Sentinel. The automated call came from a number used by the Farragut Press, though Publisher Tony Cox says the publication had nothing to do with the call.

“East Tennessee voter, are you aware that the FBI is currently asking about career politician Knox County mayor Tim Burchett involving potential bribery cases, tax evasion and more? The Department of Justice is reportedly sending out letters as we speak,” (the robocall) says.

“He’s trying to blame it on his ex-wife and says it’s fake, but did you know he was already fined and found guilty of hiding missing campaign money before he was even married? Don’t let another career politician fool you.”

… The number used in the call is not a published number of the paper, Cox said Wednesday morning. It’s not the main number for the newspaper, he said.

“I don’t think it’s a situation where someone picked our number on purpose because the number used is an unpublished number,” Cox said. “It goes straight to a phone set. I think it was a random luck of the draw, which really stinks.”

… When reached by phone Wednesday, Burchett said desperate people do desperate things.

“If I was responsible for this I would be very cautious because they thought they were being very slick, but in reality my legal folks are telling me they broke a law and they will hopefully be held accountable,” he said.

“I’m not going to swing at the low pitches,” he continued. “I think people realize now what’s at stake here and people will spend a lot of money to keep Tim Burchett out of Washington.”

According to documents obtained by the USA TODAY NETWORK – Tennessee and conversations with sources with knowledge of the situation, four people have been questioned by the FBI regarding Burchett.

Note: Previous post on the reported FBI investigation is HERE. The Nashville Post subsequently did a lengthy piece questioning reliability of that report, suggesting it originated from Burchett’s ex-wife. The headline: “Did the Tennessean get burned by Allison Burchett?”