Trump Pardons Former Tennessee State Senator Brian Kelsey for Campaign Finance Crimes

Trump pardoned former Tennessee Republican state senator Brian Kelsey on March 11, 2025, who had pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States and aiding campaign finance violations for funneling state campaign money through nonprofits to a federal congressional race. Kelsey received a 21-month federal sentence for circumventing federal contribution limits. The pardon of an elected official convicted of deliberately undermining campaign finance law drew condemnation from election watchdog organizations.