Former state Sen. Brian Kelsey has been granted a 90-day reprieve by a federal appeals court in his bid to reverse a campaign finance conviction and avoid prison. The U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals rejected Kelsey’s request for another hearing but allowed him to file a petition before the Supreme Court. Kelsey pleaded guilty in November 2022 to funneling over $100,000 from his state campaign account through political action committees to support his failed congressional campaign. He conspired with others to disguise the movement of funds, leading to his conviction for breaking federal campaign laws. Kelsey has changed legal counsel multiple times, with Joy Boyd Longnecker now representing him. Despite attempts to reverse his guilty plea, Kelsey faces a 21-month prison sentence if the Supreme Court does not hear his case. The case has political implications, with Kelsey denouncing the charges as a “witch hunt” by the Biden administration. As a favorite of conservatives, Kelsey sponsored key legislation in Tennessee, including bills on Medicaid expansion and private-school vouchers. The investigation into Kelsey began during the Trump administration, but he claims his judgment was clouded by personal circumstances, leading to his guilty plea. The 90-day reprieve gives Kelsey another chance to appeal his conviction and potentially avoid prison time.
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Ex-Senator from Tennessee Works to Avoid Jail Time • News from Tennessee Lookout
