Rick Staples

Staples was elected in 2016, succeeding Joe Armstrong, who had been convicted of a felony for a false tax return the previous August, and was thus ineligible to run for reelection.^[3]

Staples has served on multiple committees, including the Commerce Committee, Banking & Investments Subcommittee, Finance, Ways, & Means Committee, Finance, Ways, & Means Subcommittee, State Committee, Departments & Agencies Subcommittee, Joint Pensions and Insurance Committee.^[1]

In April 2019, Rep. Rick Staples, D-Knoxville, was found guilty by the ethics subcommittee of engaging in sexual harassment after an unnamed woman said he "grabbed and held on to her waist while standing behind her after he had made inappropriate comments about her appearance” during a visit to the legislature.

Staples is currently single, and has four children. He is a Baptist.^[1]