Former Tennessee Republican Senator Brian Kelsey pleaded guilty on Tuesday to violating campaign finance laws and conspiring to defraud the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
The scheme was supposed to benefit his 2016 campaign for the US Congress, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Tennessee.
The justice department announcement, which took place days before Thanksgiving, said Kelsey and co-conspirator Joshua Smith, owner of Nashville social club The Standard, were indicted by a federal grand jury in Nashville in October 2021 and charged with violating several campaign finance laws.
Kelsey, who previously pleaded not guilty and initially accused the Biden administration of calling the charges “nothing more than a political witch hunt,” changed his plea to a federal judge.
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Former Republican Senator Brian Kelsey, left, leaves federal court Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2022, in Nashville, Tennessee.
(AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
The move came after Smith pleaded guilty last month to one count under an agreement that requires him to “fully and honestly cooperate” with federal authorities.
According to court documents, Kelsey, 44, of Germantown, admitted he conspired and secretly and illegally funneled money from multiple sources, including his own. Tennessee State Senate campaign committee, to its authorized federal campaign committee.
Kelsey and his co-conspirators, including Smith, were also charged with causing a national political organization making illegal and excessive contributions to Kelsey’s federal campaign committee by covertly coordinating with the organization advertisements supporting Kelsey’s federal candidacy and causing false reports of contributions and expenses to be filed with the FEC.
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Former Republican State Senator Brian Kelsey, left, arrives in federal court Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. Kelsey on Tuesday changed a plea from not guilty to guilty, accused of violating federal campaign finance laws.
(AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Two other unnamed co-conspirators are described in the indictment as a lawyer and former member of the Tennessee House expelled in 2016. Former Republican state representative Jeremy Durham was the only lawmaker expelled this year- there, according to FOX 13 Memphis reporting.
Kelsey and the others were also accused of orchestrating the hidden $91,000 move — $66,000 of which came from Kelsey’s state Senate campaign committee, and $25,000 of which came from a for-profit corporation. nonprofit that publicly advocated for legal justice issues – to a national political organization for the with the goal of funding ads urging voters to support Kelsey in the August 2016 primary election.
Former Republican State Senator Brian Kelsey, center, arrives with a legal team in federal court Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2022, in Nashville, Tennessee.
(AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Kelsey, Smith and others also caused the political organization to make $80,000 in contributions to Kelsey’s federal campaign committee in the form of coordinated expenses, prosecutors said.
Kelsey is scheduled to be sentenced on June 9, 2023.
In March, Kelsey announced on Twitter that he would not be running again. Without mentioning his indictment, he tweeted that he was swayed by “a recent and exciting change in my personal life, and I look forward to spending more time with my family.” In September, his wife gave birth to their twins.
After Kelsey’s guilty pleaTennessee Republican Senate Chairman Randy McNally said in a statement: “Brian Kelsey has always been a friend and has served the Senate well. I appreciate his willingness to take responsibility and accept punishment. I will keep him and his family in my prayers. as he faces the consequences of his actions.”
The FBI is investigating the case.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.