NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The 22-year-old woman at the center of a recent sex scandal that led a state lawmaker to resign spoke exclusively to Channel 4 News on Friday in her first interview.

McKensie Morrison said she is speaking up now because the stories swirling around about her are not true.

She said she was never part of an extortion plot and was manipulated into a personal relationship with state Sen. Paul Stanley.

For the first days after the scandal hit last week, Morrison said she needed time to deal with her emotions and the fallout for her and her family. But she said she watched and listened as detail after detail came out, many which she said have been completely blown out of proportion.

Morrison said in order to move on, she needs to set the record straight.

"I am not a bad person. I am not an extortionist. I am not a wild woman on a hunt for men. I'm a normal girl. I'm 22 years old," said Morrison.

She is an Austin Peay State University student who has straight As and strong recommendations from professors. Her internship was supposed to be the chance of a lifetime.

Morrison said her relationship with Stanley started out as a normal working relationship, but that changed.

"It was instead of, 'Can you run this down to the copy machine?' and 'Can you get me a cup of coffee?' to 'Can you pick up my dry cleaning?' and 'Do you need some extra money? Can you clean my apartment?'" said Morrison.

She said the situation started to get out of control. Once she realized what the relationship had become, Morrison said she ended it.

"I made a stupid decision. I made a bad mistake," said Morrison. "I specifically sat down and said, 'I cannot do this anymore. I don't want to do this.' I know that Sen. Stanley has a family. I have a family. People look up to him as a figure. He's a senator."

A disc of pictures that she took with Stanley soon appeared.

After getting the first text message from her boyfriend, Joel Watts, saying he had the pictures, Stanley approached Morrison and asked her to text Watts back.

Then, she said, Stanley got a phone call from Watts and came to her.

"Sen. Stanley contacted me and said (Watts is) asking for an apology. 'What does he really want?' and I said, 'I don't know.' I saw the text message said X news company is willing to give $7,500 for the disc of pictures. (Stanley) said, '$7,500? Tell (Watts) I'll give him $8,000,'" said Morrison.

That's the last she heard of the situation until the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation showed up at her office to question her.

"They told me to hand them my ID, my parking permit, get my belongings and to leave the building. They also took my cell phone," said Morrison.

Morrison was told by the TBI not to contact anyone about what happened. In fact, even the internship coordinator said she had no idea of what had transpired.

More surprising to Morrison is Stanley alleging she was a part of the extortion plot involving money and photos.

The TBI said there's no evidence that she was involved in the plot.

"I haven't been charged with anything because I had nothing to do with it. The truth will ultimately come out in the end, and I think that we will all pay for our mistakes and our choices," said Morrison.

She is disappointed Stanley is making these accusations but said she is praying for him and his family.

Morrison said she is ready to move past all of this and hopeful her mistakes won't haunt her as she tries to be the best person she can.

"I feel like I can move on. I feel that I've learned. I'm hurt, and I'm beat up, and I'm emotionally scarred, but all we have is the future and hope," said Morrison.

Stanley has sent an e-mail to his supporters that apologizes for his role in the affair.

"I humbly ask your forgiveness for my indiscretion. The public criticism I have received thus far is well deserved," Stanley said in the e-mail. "My future course is uncharted, and I will rely exclusively on prayer and the advice and input of my wife."

The state senator's resignation is effective Aug. 10.