Bradley County DA Takes Over Jeremy Durham Case

NASHVILLE, TN — A prosecutor from extreme southeast Tennessee will handle the case of disgraced former Republican State Rep. Jeremy Durham, he confirmed to The Tennessean.

Stephen Crump, district attorney-general for the 20th judicial district, said he has been assigned Durham's case after Williamson County DA Kim Helper asked for a special prosecutor due to potential conflicts of interest in her office. Durham is an attorney and Helper says some of the people in her office may have donated to his legislative campaign.

Crump's district is centered on Cleveland and Bradley County, but also includes McMinn, Monroe and Polk counties. He told the newspaper he plans to meet with officials from the Tennessee Registry of Election Finance soon. A TREF investigation identified as many as 500 potential violations of state law by Durham, including using his campaign fund for his personal use and making loans and investments with campaign funds. Durham has denied wrongdoing.

Crump was assigned to the case by the district attorney's conference, which regularly assigns special prosecutors when a conflict arises.

Image via State of Tennessee