MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WGNS) - Rutherford County Mayor Joe Carr has received formal notification from District Attorney General Jennings H. Jones stating that a review of recent complaints found no evidence of criminal misconduct.

According to the release, the District Attorney issued a letter concluding there is "no probable cause" to believe the Mayor committed a criminal offense in connection with several ethics complaints filed against him.

The investigation centered on allegations that the Mayor misused county staff and property for a private honey business, and claims that he orchestrated a smear campaign against other county officials. The Mayor’s announcement highlights that the District Attorney’s findings align with a previous determination by the Rutherford County Ethics Committee, which also found no violations of ethical policy.

In the release, Mayor Carr dismissed the complaints as "baseless and politically motivated," suggesting they were an attempt by rivals to gain an advantage in upcoming elections. “I always knew that the District Attorney would clear me,” Carr stated, expressing gratitude for the DA’s review.