Associated Press

The Mississippi public has paid nearly $74,000 to defend legislators in federal lawsuit by voters who say they were disenfranchised in a state House race that went to a tiebreaker and was later flipped.

Democratic incumbent Bo Eaton won the tiebreaker in late 2015. The House rejected some ballots as the term started in 2016, making Republican Mark Tullos the winner and giving Republicans a three-fifths supermajority in the House.

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The Associated Press filed a public records request April 26 seeking information about payments to a private attorney, Michael Wallace, for representing Speaker Philip Gunn and others in the lawsuit.

The House Management Committee released a document Tuesday showing $73,735 in payments to the Wise Carter law firm, where Wallace is a shareholder.

The voters' lawsuit is unresolved.