Katrina Robinson
Katrina Robinson (Democratic Party) was a member of the Tennessee State Senate, representing District 33. She assumed office on November 6, 2018. She left office on February 2, 2022.
Robinson (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Tennessee State Senate to represent District 33. She won in the general election on November 6, 2018.
Committee assignments
Note: This membership information was last updated in September 2023. Ballotpedia completes biannual updates of committee membership. If you would like to send us an update, email us at: editor@ballotpedia.org.
2021-2022
Robinson was assigned to the following committees:
2019-2020
Robinson was assigned to the following committees:
Elections
2018
See also: Tennessee State Senate elections, 2018
General election
General election for Tennessee State Senate District 33
Katrina Robinson won election in the general election for Tennessee State Senate District 33 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Katrina Robinson (D) | 100.0 | 42,992 |
| Total votes: 42,992 | |||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Tennessee State Senate District 33
Katrina Robinson defeated incumbent Reginald Tate in the Democratic primary for Tennessee State Senate District 33 on August 2, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Katrina Robinson | 68.7 | 14,164 |
 | Reginald Tate | 31.3 | 6,464 | |
| Total votes: 20,628 | |||
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Noteworthy events
Federal charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering (2021)
The U.S. Attorney's Office of the Western District of Tennessee announced on January 19, 2021, that Robinson and two others, Katie Ayers and Brooke Boudreaux, allegedly "conspired to use THI [The Healthcare Institute] to defraud victim R.S. out of $14,470.00."[1] According to WVLT 8, Boudreaux convinced the person to pay $14,470 toward Boudreaux's tuition at THI, although a later FBI investigation revealed that Boudreaux never attended the institute. Robinson, Boudreaux, and Ayers were alleged to have split the tuition money among themselves, resulting in federal charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering.[2] Janika White, Robinson's lawyer, said, "Ms. Robinson denies that there was anything wrong or illegal with the transaction and further denies that she was aware of any illegal activity connected to it."[2]
On December 17, 2021, Robinson, Ayers, and Boudreaux entered a pretrial diversion program. Through this program, the above charges were dropped.[3]
Federal embezzlement and theft charges (2020)
On July 29, 2020, federal prosecutors released court records charging Robinson with embezzlement and theft. The documents allege that Robinson stole approximately $600,000 from a $2.2 million federal grant awarded to for-profit college The Healthcare Institute, of which Robinson is the director. The charges resulted from an investigation that began when an anonymous complaint was filed with the Department of Health and Human Services in 2016, which alleged that Robinson used grant funds for a personal purchase.[4] Robinson's attorney, Janika White, said in response to the release of the charges, "Senator Robinson has a story to tell. She's eager to tell that story and we believe once all the facts come out and her story is told she will be vindicated."[5] On August 11, 2020, Robinson pleaded not guilty to the above charges.[6] On October 2, 2020, WREG Memphis reported that Robinson's trial would be set for September 13, 2021, with a following court date of December 4, 2021.[7]
Robinson was found guilty of four of five counts of wire fraud on September 30, 2021. Earlier in her trial, she was acquitted of 15 of 20 original charges. Following the verdict, Robinson said, "I entered this process knowing that I am innocent and still I maintain that I am innocent...My service to the state Senate; I'm still committed to that. However, I have not yet made a decision about how we move forward."[8] Two of the guilty counts were later dropped.[9]
Robinson's lawyers sought an acquittal on October 8, 2021, arguing "prosecutors misrepresented evidence and changed their legal theories mid-trial."[10] They also asked for a new trial if the acquittal was denied.[10]
On February 2, 2022, the Tennessee State Senate voted 27-5 to expel Robinson from the Senate based on the federal charges.
Robinson called the vote a "procedural lynching."[11]
Lt. Gov. Randy McNally (R) said, “While the expulsion of a Senator for the first time in history was not something any of us wished to see, it was a necessary action. The integrity of the Senate is of paramount importance. Senator Robinson was given every consideration and due process."[11]
Robinson was sentenced to one year probation and ordered to receive mental health counseling on March 18, 2022.[9]
Scorecards
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2022
In 2022, the Tennessee State Legislature was in session from January 11 to April 28.
- Legislators are scored on their stances on conservative fiscal policy.
- Legislators are scored based on their votes on the business community.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to business issues.
- Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to education.
- Legislators are scored on bills related to reproductive health issues.
2021
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2021, click [show]. |
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In 2021, the Tennessee State Legislature was in session from January 12 to May 5.
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2020
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2020, click [show]. |
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In 2020, the Tennessee State Legislature was in session from January 14 to June 19.
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2019
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2019, click [show]. |
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In 2019, the Tennessee General Assembly was in session January 8 through May 2.
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See also
- State legislative elections, 2018
- Tennessee State Senate elections, 2018
- Tennessee State Senate
- Tennessee State Senate District 33
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ The United States Attorney's Office Western District of Tennessee, "New Charges Filed Against Tennessee State Senator Katrina Robinson, Two Others in Fraud and Money Laundering Case," January 19, 2021
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 WVLT8, "Tennessee state senator charged again in federal court," January 20, 2021
- ↑ Daily Memphian, "Charges dropped against Katrina Robinson, who will enter diversion," December 20, 2021
- ↑ New York Times, "Tennessee State Senator Embezzled $600,000 in Federal Grant Money, U.S. Says," July 29, 2020
- ↑ WMCAction5 News, "State Sen. Katrina Robinson says she will be vindicated in federal embezzlement case," July 29, 2020
- ↑ On Your Side WATE, "Tennessee state senator pleads not guilty to federal charges," August 13, 2020
- ↑ WREG Memphis, "Trial date set for September 2021 in Sen. Robinson theft, fraud case," October 2, 2020
- ↑ New Canaan Advertiser, "Tennessee state senator found guilty of 4 wire fraud counts," September 30, 2021
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Action News 5, "Former TN State Senator Katrina Robinson sentence given," March 18, 2022
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Commercial Appeal, "Tennessee senator Katrina Robinson seeks acquittal after fraud conviction," October 11, 2021
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Commercial Appeal, "Tennessee Senate expels Sen. Katrina Robinson from legislature, a first for the chamber," February 2, 2022
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Reginald Tate (D) |
Tennessee State Senate District 33 2018-2022 |
Succeeded by London Lamar (D) |
