Complaint accuses lawmaker of violating law
NASHVILLE (AP) — A complaint filed Thursday with the Tennessee Registry of Election Finance accuses state Rep. Susan Lynn of violating campaign finance laws against fund-raising while lawmakers are in session.
John Rutherford, former executive director of Tennessee Citizen Action, says in the complaint that Lynn solicited contributions on her campaign Web page after the General Assembly convened on Jan. 13.
He says he sent a $5 contribution on Jan. 16 to Lynn and it has not been returned.
“Lynn was trying to use the Internet to skirt campaign finance laws that ensure legislators can’t accept fat campaign contributions from the same industries they are passing laws to govern,” Rutherford said
He said he acted after receiving a tip about Lynn’s Web site and that he didn’t find any similar solicitations during a check of most of the other 131 state lawmakers’ campaign Web sites.
Lynn, R-Mt. Juliet, said she didn’t know anything about the complaint until contacted by a reporter and that she will immediately send back his money.
Lynn said she realized shortly after session began that she needed to deactivate the link to Pay Pal on her Web site and did so, but that she so rarely receives contributions there she didn’t check to see if any had come in. “It was just an oversight,” Lynn said.
On Lynn’s Web site Thursday, it says that “contributions cannot be accepted at this time.”
Lynn says she was told by registry officials that if she returns the money within 60 days “it’s as if you never got it in the first place.”
Drew Rawlins, executive director of the registry, said the matter will be discussed at the March 10 board meeting. “It is true that you cannot solicit money during session. It will be up to the board to determine what to do,” Rawlins said.
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On the Net:
Rep. Susan Lynn Web site: http://www.susanlynn4rep.com
Registry of Election Finance: http://www.state.tn.us/tref/
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