News Summary
Knox County District Attorney Charme Allen has terminated assistant prosecutor Berkley Mason following the discovery of racial and sexist posts on his social media. Mason’s online comments, which included praise for Nazism and derogatory statements about minority groups, prompted an internal review. His termination raises questions about the responsibility of public officials in maintaining ethical standards and the potential impact on cases he managed involving minority defendants. The DA’s office has initiated a review of Mason’s caseload to assess the influence of his views on the justice process.
Knoxville, Tennessee – The Knox County District Attorney Charme Allen terminated assistant prosecutor Berkley Mason on May 5, 2025, following the emergence of racist and sexist posts on his social media account on X, previously known as Twitter. Mason’s posts included inflammatory statements that praised Nazism and disparaged Black individuals and immigrants, which led to an internal review by the DA’s office after a media inquiry into his online activities.
Allen’s decision to dismiss Mason came after Mason conceded that the controversial X account belonged to him, admitting to having encouraged the use of fabricated reasons to remove immigrants by any means necessary. Allen articulated that Mason’s beliefs and online expressions significantly undermined public trust in the office and suggested a readiness to compromise ethical standards which are essential for prosecutorial responsibilities.
As part of the fallout from this incident, the DA’s office and the Knox County Public Defender’s Office initiated a review of all cases Mason had worked on. This review aims to evaluate the potential impact of his biased views on the justice process. Legal experts have cautioned, however, that it may be challenging to demonstrate that Mason’s social media behavior resulted in unfair legal outcomes for defendants.
Mason’s tweets included striking remarks such as a call for more “migrant killers and less killer migrants” and references to “HH. 1488,” coded language associated with Nazi ideology. Following his termination, Mason’s X account was swiftly deleted, although prior evidence of his posts was preserved by media entities.
A review of Mason’s assignments showed that 28% of the 111 cases he managed involved minority defendants. This detail has drawn attention to the implications of his controversial viewpoints on his capacity to fairly adjudicate cases involving these populations. Prior instances, such as the scrutiny faced by former detective Grayson Fritts for making inflammatory comments, did not reveal significant legal ramifications for other cases. However, the DA’s office undertook such reassessments as a precautionary measure.
Allen’s announcement regarding Mason’s termination underscored that his comments had significantly eroded her confidence in his ability to perform his duties in a fair and just manner. Mason, however, has a background marked by commendations and positive professional references, including endorsements from Judge Robert Headrick. His personnel file revealed no previous issues before the social media controversy emerged.
Mason graduated from the University of Tennessee College of Law, expressing a desire to build a future committed to justice within the DA’s office in his initial application. If Mason argues that his termination was unwarranted and that his posts are a matter of free speech, he may consider legal action. Legal experts suggest any such lawsuit would likely face significant hurdles given existing precedents that prioritize public trust and ethical conduct within public service roles.
The situation raises important questions about the responsibility of public officials regarding their online behavior and the potential ramifications that may follow from maintaining personal views contrary to the ethical standards expected in the judicial field. As the review of Mason’s caseload unfolds, the repercussions of his actions and the broader implications for the justice system are yet to be fully assessed.
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