NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A former Republican Tennessee lawmaker has announced his pardon from President Donald Trump just two weeks into his 21-month prison sentence for an illegal campaign finance scheme. Former Sen. Brian Kelsey, who pleaded guilty to the charges in 2022, made the news public in a post on social media Tuesday evening.
Kelsey stated that he received a “full and unconditional pardon” and is no longer under the custody of the Bureau of Prisons, as confirmed by a federal database. He had been set to report to FCI Ashland’s minimum-security satellite camp in Kentucky.
In his announcement, Kelsey remarked, “May God bless America, despite the prosecutorial sins it committed against me, President Trump, and others the past four years.” The 47-year-old’s legal troubles began when he pleaded guilty in November 2022 to charges of illegally attempting to funnel campaign money from his state legislative seat into his unsuccessful 2016 congressional campaign.
Kelsey was indicted in October 2021 and initially dismissed the prosecution as a politically motivated attack. However, after a co-defendant entered a guilty plea, Kelsey followed suit.
On Tuesday, he reiterated his criticism of the Biden administration, claiming, “God used Donald Trump to save me from the weaponized Biden DOJ.” His campaign finance activities had previously attracted scrutiny, leading to a complaint filed with the Federal Election Commission and the Department of Justice back in 2017.
In March 2023, Kelsey attempted to withdraw his guilty plea, arguing that he made it under duress due to personal circumstances, including the birth of his twins and his father’s terminal illness. However, U.S. District Judge Waverly Crenshaw denied his request, emphasizing that Kelsey, an attorney and former state senator, should have understood the seriousness of his actions when he pleaded guilty.
Crenshaw also dismissed another motion from Kelsey regarding alleged violations of his plea agreement, although he allowed Kelsey to remain free pending an appeal, which ultimately failed. Most recently, another motion to extend his freedom was denied by the judge, citing Kelsey’s clear admission of guilt.
While Kelsey faces various legal challenges, he made the announcement of his pardon amid ongoing appeals. The indictment against him alleged that Kelsey and his associates illegally concealed a transfer of $91,000 from campaign funds to support his congressional bid. The alleged scheme involved filing false campaign finance reports and making illegal contributions.
Kelsey, a Germantown attorney, was first elected to the Tennessee General Assembly in 2004 as a state representative and later became a senator in 2009. He served as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee and did not seek reelection in 2022. Following his guilty plea, his law license was suspended.
