Ethics panel: Durham failed to disclose info

Tennessee’s leading ethics body is prepared to move forward with an investigation into Jeremy Durham that could lead to tens of thousands of dollars in fines for the former state lawmaker.

The Tennessee Ethics Commission unanimously voted to issue a “showcause” notice to Durham on Tuesday morning, alleging he repeatedly failed to fully disclose all necessary information on his statement of disclosure of interest.

“The show-cause notice lays out the potential violations to Mr. Durham and gives him a chance to respond to the ethics commission before they take any action on the matter,” said commission Executive Director Drew Rawlins. “He could be assessed $10,000 for each violation on [not] disclosing incomes or investments.”

Every elected official in the state has to file such a report, showing the sources of their income. While Durham filed those reports, a USA Today Network-Tennessee analysis previously showed he left of some key details or otherwise incorrectly filled out the form.

The commission took action Tuesday as a result of findings from an expansive audit released in February by the Tennessee Registry of Election Finance. The audit found Durham may have violated campaign finance law 690 times, including using campaign funds to buy suits, sunglasses and spa products that appear to be for personal use.

The commission is focusing on a different portion of the audit, which highlights investments and loans made using Durham’s campaign funds.

Durham wrote a $25,000 check in August 2015 from his campaign account to his wife, Jessica, the report states. Durham told investigators the money also was related to a loan.

Jessica Durham, an optometrist with a practice in Green Hills, paid back $5,000 of that money on Oct. 31, 2015, the report states. A line of credit from the campaign to the candidate “appears to be in violation” of campaign finance law, the report states

Durham invested more than $100,000 in Life Watch Pharmacy, a company owned by Andrew Miller, a prominent Republican donor who has advocated for anti-Islam policy in the state.