Carl Christopher Perkins (born August 6, 1954) is an American lawyer and politician who served as the United States representative from the 7th district of Kentucky from 1984 to 1993. Perkins was convicted on three federal felony corruption charges in relation to the House banking scandal.
Chris Perkins | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Kentucky's 7th district | |
| In office November 6, 1984 – January 3, 1993 | |
| Preceded by | Carl D. Perkins |
| Succeeded by | Constituency abolished |
| Member of the Kentucky House of Representatives | |
| In office January 1, 1981 – November 6, 1984 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Carl Christopher Perkins August 6, 1954 Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Relatives | Carl D. Perkins (father) |
| Education | Davidson College (BA) University of Louisville (JD) Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary (MDiv, ThM) |
Biography
editPerkins is the son of Carl D. Perkins, who represented Kentucky in the House of Representatives from 1949 to 1984. Perkins was born in Washington, D.C., and graduated from Fort Hunt High School, Alexandria, Virginia in 1972. He earned his B.A. from Davidson College in 1976. In 1978, he earned a J.D. degree from the University of Louisville. He worked for some time as a lawyer in private practice.[1]
From 1981 to 1984, he was a member of the Kentucky House of Representatives, representing Kentucky's 92nd House district.[1][2]
Perkins was elected simultaneously as a Democrat to the 98th and the 99th Congress by special election to fill the vacancy caused by the death of his father. Perkins was reelected to the three succeeding Congresses (November 6, 1984 – January 3, 1993). The seat that he held, Kentucky's 7th district, was eliminated by redistricting and became Kentucky's 5th district and some counties in Kentucky's 4th district.[1] He did not seek re-election to Congress in 1992 from the new 5th district, in part due to the House banking scandal.
In 1994, Perkins agreed to plead guilty on three felony charges in connection with the House banking scandal.[3] The following year, he was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison for misusing hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions and improperly obtaining bank loans. He was also placed on three years' supervised probation, ordered to perform 250 hours of community service, and told to complete any treatment for alcoholism deemed necessary by his probation officer.[4]
After his release from prison, Perkins attended Louisville Seminary where he received his Master of Divinity in 2003 and Master of Theology in 2008. He became an ordained Presbyterian minister, and served a church in Ezel, Kentucky, before becoming pastor of Enslow Park Presbyterian Church in Huntington, West Virginia.[5][6]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c United States Congress. "Chris Perkins (id: P000229)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- ^ "Kentucky General Assembly Membership 1900-2005 - Volume II, 1950-2005" (PDF). Legislative Research Commission. April 2005. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
- ^ Former U.S. Representative Chris Perkins is charged, agrees to plead guilty, U.S. Department of Justice press release, December 13, 1994
- ^ Prison for Ex-Congressman, The New York Times, March 14, 1995
- ^ Former Congressman turns to different public ministry
- ^ "Huntington churches honor Scottish traditions". West Virginia Press Association. 2014-10-27. Retrieved 2024-10-06.
