What This Story Is About
- State Agriculture Commissioner Andy Holt has been accused of pressuring Farm Bureau to back Sen. Marsha Blackburn for governor.
Why It Matters
- The gubernatorial election is happening Nov. 3 as candidates seek to fill Gov. Bill Lee’s spot.
What Happens Next
- The gubernatorial primary is happening Aug. 6
For Context
- Republican Tennessee gubernatorial candidate John Rose is calling for competitor Marsha Blackburn to release the findings of an alleged Senate ethics probe into her office.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – State Agriculture Commissioner Andy Holt has been accused of pressuring Farm Bureau to back Sen. Marsha Blackburn for governor.
In a lawsuit filed Wednesday, former Farm Bureau insurance agent Bryan Rhodes alleged that Holt had been pressuring the organization to publicly endorse Blackburn.
Rhodes also alleged that Holt was working as a local spokesperson, trying to build support for Blackburn in Weakley County.
Rhodes alleges that he caught Holt engaging in fraudulent conduct and that Holt pressured Farm Bureau to terminate his employment. Rhodes also accused Farm Bureau of going along with this and firing him because the organization was reportedly already worried about upsetting the commissioner since it hadn’t endorsed Blackburn.
Rhodes is suing for defamation and lost wages, among other things.
For the full lawsuit, read below.
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