Where are they now: ‘Impeachment, Tennessee style’

Thirty-one years ago this month, former Tennessee Gov. Leonard Ray Blanton was convicted of mail fraud, conspiracy and extortion for selling liquor licenses. He had been exposed as being part of a scheme that controlled or forced kickbacks from Nashville liquor store owners. His next 22 months would be spent in a federal penitentiary.

While most recalling Blanton today remember his alleged involvement in selling pardons, he was never implicated on charges of that nature — although some of his key advisors were convicted in that scheme. He is also remembered for unceremoniously being removed from office three days early in a move then-Lt. Gov. John Wilder famously called, “Impeachment, Tennessee style.”