Brian Kelsey pleaded guilty to charges related to his attempts to funnel campaign money from his state legislative seat toward his failed 2016 congressional bid.

Brian Kelsey, a Republican, pleaded guilty to illegally funneling money to his failed campaign for Congress in 2016. He later tried unsuccessfully to withdraw his plea.

President Trump pardoned former Tennessee state Sen. Brian Kelsey on Tuesday, two weeks into his prison sentence for campaign finance violations. Why it matters: The pardon is a major victory for Kelsey,