It’s a lesson that obviously hasn’t been learned by everyone at the state capitol yet. Sorry I didn’t write yesterday, but the late-breaking “text message scandal” kept me busy until news time. In case you haven’t heard, Minority Leader Gary Odom says while working on committee assignments last week, Speaker Kent Williams showed him a text message from Rep. Brian Kelsey. It said, “Tell Kent I’m willing to talk about reconciliation if he’s willing to talk about chairman of the full committee.” Odom calls it extortion, Kelsey calls it a peace offering. Kelsey admits he sent the text message, but that it was before he read the memo detailing the incident between Rep. Susan Lynn and Williams two years ago. He said after reading that and hearing Williams publicly deny it, he had to file an ethics complaint. Still, the message has been sent to the Davidson County District Attorney for investigation.
On a side note, I did speak with Rep. Susan Lynn yesterday. She was back at work, doing well and looking forward to moving past this entire ordeal. I spoke with her well before this whole text message thing came out, but she did defend Kelsey against criticism that he caused her hospitalization. She said that was simply not true and called him a “true gentleman”.
Kelsey saying he hadn’t read the complaint is a lie. His “roommate” worked against Kent Williams and posted on Topix the details of the allegation. He’s the one posting from Germantown.