By AP
Frankfort, TN – Former Transportation Cabinet Commissioner Dan Druen has been charged with 21 felonies for tampering with a witness or evidence by a special grand jury in Franklin County. The jury is looking at the personnel practices of Governor Ernie Fletcher's administration.
Transportation cabinet personnel director Tim Hazlette has been indicted on a single misdemeanor charge of conspiracy to violate personnel laws. Hazlette is the ninth person charged in the ongoing investigation.
Druen was asked to resign as Commissioner of Administrative Services in the transportation cabinet. He was previously charged with 13 misdemeanor personnel violations and a felony count for alleged witness tampering.
The latest witness tampering charge alleges Druen lied to or " practiced fraud or deceit" on his former assistant, Cheryl Casey, before she testified to the grand jury. Casey made her fourth appearance before the grand jury Wednesday before the indictments were returned.
Prosecutor Scott Crawford-Sutherland says the charges against Druen are all Class D felonies, punishable by up to five years in prison.