Gov. Lee pays Alliance Defending Freedom back for trip to Florida [Video]

Gov. Bill Lee spoke at the Alliance Defending Freedom’s annual conference in July. In a meeting Tuesday, the state Ethics Commission found he violated ethics rules.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee Ethics Commission staff found Governor Bill Lee violated state ethics rules by accepting an all expenses paid trip to Florida from a Christian non-profit legal group.

The trip to Marco Island, Florida, first reported by The Tennessean, was paid for by Alliance Defending Freedom – a nonprofit who works to ‘advance the God-given right to live and speak the truth,’ according to its website. Gov. Lee traveled there July 9-10 to speak at the group’s annual conference.

During the state Ethics Commission meeting Tuesday morning, staff presented a report that said the governor violated state ethics rules. The report was then approved by the entire board.

Gov. Lee’s office said they reached out the the Tennessee Bureau of Ethics and Campaign Finance for clarity around their interpretation of the law. …

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