Media groups sue campaign finance board over email vote, contend violation of open meetings law

A coalition of media organizations filed a lawsuit Wednesday against a state panel for violating Tennessee’s open meetings law.

The lawsuit, filed in Nashville chancery court, stems from the Tennessee Registry of Election Finance’s decision to reduce previously issued fines against Rep. Joe Towns, D-Memphis.

First reported by the USA TODAY Network - Tennessee, the board — prompted by Bureau of Ethics and Campaign Finance Executive Director Bill Young — voted via email earlier this month to reduce Towns’ fines to $22,000.

Before the reduction, Towns owed the registry and the state Ethics Commission more than $66,000 for failing to file various reports.

Read more: https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/news/politics/2020/04/29/tennessee-media-groups-sue-campaign-finance-board-over-email-vote/3050780001/