A Tennessee state senator has been federally indicted on campaign finance charges. Brian Kelsey, R-Germantown, faces a five-count indictment related to his unsuccessful 2016 campaign for U.S. Congress.
Also charged is Joshua Smith, owner of the social club that’s attached to The Standard restaurant in downtown Nashville.
A federal grand jury brought the charges. Kelsey is charged with conspiracy and illegally transferring “soft money” as a federal candidate and state officeholder, as well as accepting and making excessive contributions to a federal campaign.
Kelsey and Smith, as well as others described as unindicted co-conspirators, are accused of violating federal campaign finance laws to funnel money that is not subject to the limitations and reporting requirements of the Federal Election Campaign Act from Kelsey’s state senate effort to his federal campaign. Prosecutors say they also shuffled more than $90,000 to a national political organization for ads for Kelsey’s campaign in the 2016 primary election. The political organization then contributed $80,000 to Kelsey’s federal campaign committee.
If convicted, Kelsey and Smith face up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine on each count. They are due for initial court appearances before Nov. 5.
Kelsey responded to the allegations on Twitter, claiming he was being targeted for political reasons.
(1/2)This is nothing but a political witch hunt. The Biden Administration is trying to take me out because I’m conservative, and I’m the #1 target of the Tennessee Democratic Party. I won my seat only 51 to 49% last time, and the Democrats think this will make the difference.
— Brian Kelsey (@BrianKelsey) October 25, 2021
(2/2) They’re wrong. These five-year-old, unfounded allegations have been reviewed and re-reviewed. They were wrong then, and they’re wrong now. I’m totally innocent, and I look forward to being cleared at trial.
— Brian Kelsey (@BrianKelsey) October 25, 2021
Kelsey finished fourth in the 2016 GOP primary, behind now-Congressman David Kustoff. The 43-year-old has served in the state legislature since 2004.
He’s one of two sitting state senators facing federal charges. Last month, state Sen. Katrina Robinson, D-Memphis, was found guilty of four accounts of fraud for expenses related to a vocational school she operates. Robinson has appealed.
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