TN Governor Lee repays travel expenses after advisory opinion

TN Governor Bill Lee has repaid travel expenses from a trip to an island in Florida originally covered by a nonprofit with a branch that employs lobbyists in Tennessee. This came at the governor’s request and the Ethics Commission issued an advisory opinion that the paid trip was considered an illegal gift under the state’s ethics laws. In July, Governor Lee traveled to Marco Island, FL to speak at an annual conference hosted by the Christian legal advocacy non-profit, Alliance Defending Freedom, which then paid for his travel expenses. Reports said the organization employs some lobbyists affiliated with the 501(c)(4) organization, ADF Action, and the two groups share the same leadership. Lee repaid the amount as soon as the Ethics Commission rendered their opinion.