Megan Barry, the Democratic mayor of Nashville, Tennessee, resigned on Tuesday and pleaded guilty to a felony theft charge after admitting that she had an affair with her bodyguard.
"While my time today as your mayor concludes, my unwavering love and sincere affection for this wonderful city and its great people never ends," Barry said at a news conference after appearing before a judge and pleading guilty.
The Tennessean first reported that Barry would announce her resignation at a press conference scheduled for Tuesday morning.
In January, Barry admitted to a nearly two-year-long affair with Sgt. Robert Forrest, a former member of the mayor's security detail.
The now-former mayor pleaded guilty to felony property theft and will pay $11,000 in restitution to the city of Nashville, the Associated Press reported. She was also sentenced to three years of probation.
The controversy arose when it became public that Forrest had earned more than $170,000 in overtime pay since Barry first took office in September 2015. Reports also allege that Barry and Forrest often traveled alone without additional security or staff.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation opened a probe into Barry's conduct to determine if there was any wrongdoing.
Barry's resignation came only hours after former Nashville Councilman Carter Todd called on her to resign in the wake of the scandal.
In a press conference Tuesday, Barry announced her resignation and her hope that her personal failing as mayor would not tarnish the record of her administration.
"I sincerely hope and believe that my own actions will not tarnish or otherwise distract from the work," Barry said. "It has been the privilege of my entire professional life to have the blessing and opportunity to be your mayor. Thank you in advance for the support you will give Mayor David Briley in the weeks ahead. I love you Nashville."
Vice Mayor David Briley (D.) is set to be sworn in as mayor later on Tuesday.
District Attorney General Glenn Funk said in court that if Barry did not plead guilty, he would have prosecuted a prepared case against the mayor alleging that she caused over $10,000 and no less than $60,000 of municipal funds to be spent unlawfully between March 2016 and February 2018.
This story is developing and will be updated as more information becomes available.