Tennessee’s top campaign finance watchdog advised former Sen. Brian Kelsey he can’t use his political action committee to pay attorneys as he tries to reverse a conviction for violating federal campaign finance law.
Kelsey, a Germantown Republican, transferred $196,833 from his state campaign account to his Red State PAC last summer, then sought a legal opinion on whether that money could be used for legal fees in his federal case, after switching attorneys twice.
Bill Young, executive director of the Bureau of Ethics and Campaign Finance, issued an advisory opinion to Red State PAC Chair Jennifer Martinez, of Memphis, in November letting her know state law “prohibits the disbursement of campaign funds from a candidate’s campaign account for a candidate’s own personal use,” precluding PAC funds from being spent on Kelsey’s legal fees.
Young