Press Release: Defrauding Millionaire Supports Weaver at Sumner County Fundraiser

September 26, 2016

Hendrix Campaign

Press Release submitted to Smith County of Insider by the Campaign to Elect Gayla Hendrix.

SMITHVILLE – On September 20, The Tennessean published a story about Andy Miller, a wealthy Republican donor and businessman, who, along with his brother and others, has been fined $7.74 million dollars for defrauding TRICARE, the federal healthcare program for veterans and their families.

Miller also made news recently for taking campaign money as investments from Jeremy Durham, the Tennessee legislator expelled only last week from the General Assembly for inappropriate conduct involving the alleged sexual harassment of 22 colleagues and subordinates on Capitol Hill. Durham was expelled by a 70 ā€“ 2 vote with District 40ā€™s Terri Lynn Weaver being one of the two votes to allow him to retain his seat, and thus, draw a lifetime pension and benefits from the taxpayers of Tennessee.

Yesterday September 22, Miller served as a cohost for a fundraiser benefitting Representative Weaver. He has also supported her previous campaigns through his political action committee, Truth Matters, by donating over $8,000.00.

Smithville attorney, Gayla Hendrix, who is challenging Weaver in Novemberā€™s general election and condemned Weaverā€™s support of Jeremy Durham, issued the following statement today:

ā€œTerri Lynn claims to represent the interests of everyday Tennesseans, and relies on her credentials as a gospel singer to present a persona of values that she shares with people of District 40; but clearly, it is only a persona. Given her recent actions, both with her vote on the Durham matter and now her financial association with those who have stolen healthcare dollars from veterans and their families, her ability to represent District 40 must be called into question.

It is a legislatorā€™s duty to put the needs and values of their constituents first; but once again, we see Representative Weaver put her political alliances and campaign coffers above all else.

Whether Terri Lynnā€™s breaches of responsibility are due to a weakness of character, a knowledge deficit or some combination of factors, she must be held accountable for these failures of leadership and representation.ā€

Paid for by the Campaign to Elect Gayla C. Hendrix, State House District 40, Joy Parker, Treasurer