Registry talks about Durham probe, delays reporting results until February

The results of an investigation into former state Rep. Jeremy Durham’s campaign finances will not be revealed until February and one member of the Registry of Election Finance says “new information” is coming to light in the process, reports The Tennessean.

Registry Executive Director Drew Rawlins  said at a meeting of the board Wednesday that staff has collected all the materials they need pertaining to the finances of the recently expelled state lawmaker, but it will take more time than originally expected to conclude the inquiry.

Tom Lawless, who serves as chairman of the registry, said there is “other information that is coming to light” that is still being investigated.

“We have additional things that we need to discuss and that we will be discussing,” he said.

Lawless said he hopes the state’s probe will be completed in time for the registry’s next meeting, which will be held in February. He reiterated that he is not out to beat up Durham, but admitted that some of the information he’s seen has been troublesome.

“That will come out, and I think there will be actions that will come out of the February meeting that will at least show some of that — at least the information I’ve got leads me to believe that,” he said.

Lawless said he has “serious concerns” about some of Durham’s use of campaign funds, adding, “Whether its a violation that arises to the level that we need to take curative action, well, that will be seen.”

The ongoing state probe into Durham’s campaign money began in June after Attorney General Herbert Slatery told campaign finance officials about a former Durham employee who said the now-expelled lawmaker directed him to move money between a campaign account and an account for Durham’s former title company.