Tennesseans face vote- buying case

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Federal authorities said two people, including a 60- year- old woman who’s also charged with selling marijuana, are accused of buying votes in the 2014 U. S. Senate primary election.

The Knoxville News Sentinel reported that Betty Jane Best and Brian Keith Hodge were named in a 14- count federal indictment alleging a vote- buying conspiracy in Monroe County.

The indictment alleges that 13 people were paid to vote in the 2014 Senate primary. The indictment doesn’t say who they were supposed to have voted for or how much they received for casting a ballot.

U. S. Sen. Lamar Alexander and attorney Gordon Ball won those primary races. There’s no indication either was aware of the alleged scheme.