With two new nominees, Trump completes TN U.S. marshal appointments (all three previous GOP political appointees)

Former state Rep. Barrett Rich, currently a member of the Tennessee state Board of Paroles, and Denny King, who headed the state Department of Safety under former Gov. Don Sundquist, have been nominated by President Trump to become U.S. Marshals.

Rich (R-Somerville) chose not to seek reelection to the House District 94 seat in 2014 and was appointed after his term expired to the Board of Paroles by Gov. Bill Haslam. King previously served as U.S. marshal for Middle Tennessee, after his tenure as safety commissioner, under appointment of former President George W. Bush.

Trump had previously nominated David Jolley as U.S. marshal for East Tennessee and his appointment has been confirmed by the U.S. Senate. The King and Rich nominations await confirmation. Jolley also served as U.S. marshal for East Tennessee under former President George W. Bush and is the husband of Jane Jolley, East Tennessee field coordinator for Sen. Bob Corker.

The White House announced the nominations in a press release that included multiple other nominees for both U.S. marshal and judicial positions. Here are the press re;ease statements on King and Rich as included in the overall list:

Denny King

If confirmed, Denny Wade King of Tennessee will serve as the United States Marshal for the Middle District of Tennessee. Denny King began his law enforcement career in 1973 as a Patrolman with the LaFollette, Tennessee, Police Department. In 1974, Mr. King became a Trooper with the Tennessee Department of Safety. He rose through the ranks of the Department, and in January 2002, he was appointed Commissioner of Safety by Governor Don Sundquist. He served in this capacity until September 2002, when he was appointed United States Marshal for the Middle District of Tennessee by President George W. Bush. Mr. King served as U.S. Marshal for over 10 years, until January 2013. In retirement, he has served as a part-time Security Officer and Private Investigator with Music City Security & Investigations, Inc. He has also served as Director of Admissions and Development Officer for Bethel University and Program Administrator and Recruiter for Tennessee Tech University. Mr. King holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Bethel University and an Associate of Science in Criminal Justice from Walter State Community College.

Barrett Rich

If confirmed, Barrett W. Rich of Tennessee will serve as the United States Marshal for the Western District of Tennessee. Barrett Rich currently serves as a Board Member on the Tennessee Board of Parole, a position he has held since his appointment by Governor Bill Haslam in 2014. He began his law enforcement career in 1996 as a Cadet with the Shelby County, Tennessee Sheriff’s Office. Mr. Rich went on to serve as an Officer with the Oakland Police Department and a Deputy Sheriff with the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office before joining the Tennessee Highway Patrol as a State Trooper in 2000. He served in this capacity until 2005. After three years as an Insurance Agent with the Tennessee Farm Bureau, Mr. Rich was elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives in 2008, representing Tennessee’s 94th district. He served as a State Representative for three terms, until 2014.  He was selected to serve as the House Majority Whip in his second term, from 2010 to 2012.  Mr. Rich is an Eagle Scout, and he earned a B.S. in Management and Organizational Development from Bethel College and a J.D. from the Nashville School of Law.

Note: Previous post on the Jolley nomination HERE. A post on Barrett’s appointment to the Board of Paroles is HERE. Sens. Lamar Alexander and Corker declared their support for confirmation of the two latest nominees via press release. Alexander for King HERE; and for Rich HERE. Corker for King HERE; for Rich HERE.