Emails reveal frustrations among Tennessee House GOP over leaks

An ongoing discussion about leaked emails between House Republican lawmakers has led one member to say whoever provided them to the media has betrayed their own party, another to suggest a colleague should “grow up” and a third to raise the possibility of asking the attorney general to look into the matter.

On Monday, Rep. Susan Lynn, R-Mt. Juliet, sent out an email to the House Republican Caucus asking “whoever released our email discussion of whether or not to hold a special session” to out themselves.

Lynn’s comments came after The Tennessean obtained a series of emails between the caucus that revealed politics was factoring into the discussion about whether to hold a special session in response to the Obama administration's new guidelines directing public schools to allow transgender students to use bathrooms and locker rooms that match with their gender identity.

In the initial set of emails, Lynn said the federal directive was nothing more than “bait” and attempt to “jerk us around.”

Politics drive debate over special 'bathroom' session

In an email sent on Monday morning, Lynn rebuked the person who leaked the initial conversation. “Whoever did this – you know who you are – I implore you to act with more honor than that – to behave with Christian ethics,” she said. “I felt that I could trust each of you so I spoke freely and obviously so did others. I had no thought that one among us could not be trusted – but now you have let us know that we cannot trust you.”

Lynn, who sponsored and later withdrew legislation requiring students to use the restroom that corresponds with their sex at birth, said she knew more about the issue than other caucus members.

Explaining her decision to halt the measure, Lynn said she was simply trying to do what was “best for the children of our state…not for our campaigns … not for our fundraising … not for the possibilities of gaining more seats in the House … not for the press … but for the safety of our children.”

Southern conservatives blast Obama transgender order

Tennessee lawmakers urge Haslam to oppose transgender directive

In an email sent on Wednesday morning, Rep. Kevin Brooks, R-Cleveland, said he agreed with Lynn and expressed disappointment about the leaked emails, even suggesting the use of the state's public records laws to find out which emails were used to send out the initial correspondence.

Legislative officials believe that previous court rulings make state lawmakers exempt from the public records act and "internal records," including emails, aren't subject to disclosure.

“Possibly, we should ask the TN (Tennessee) Attorney General to offer assistance to determine how this conversation or email was sent to the media outlets," Brooks said. "Just my thoughts. And possibly soon everyone else in TN will know them if this email is leaked too.”

Deborah Fisher, executive director of the Tennessee Coalition for Open Government, said, "Trying to find out the sources of a leak is clearly another way to try to shut down access to information about what government is doing."

Alexander blasts federal transgender guidance

Fisher warned that lawmakers shouldn't try and "chill" the media from doing its job. "We shouldn't be trying to stop truthful information from coming out about our government," she said. "There are more pressing problems to address than trying to restrict information."

Replying to Lynn on Wednesday, Rep. Rick Womick, R-Rockvale, said any information that lawmakers issue — whether it is verbal or written — should be expected to be made public.

“You better have the courage to stand behind those comments, rather than whine about who released them,” Womick wrote. “If I am opposed to an individual’s position and that individual is foolish enough to put it in writing, then they should expect it to be used against them.”

“Time to grow up and accept responsibility for loose lips … can’t handle that then maybe time to leave the political arena," Womick concluded. "People are fed up with whining, insincere politicians.”

When The Tennessean contacted Lynn on Wednesday morning to discuss the leaked emails, she simply said she was “shocked that the email about the leaked emails was also leaked.”

“I think it’s reprehensible that somebody leaked this,” she said, before sending another email to her Republican colleagues, which began, “We have a new low standard.”

In her latest email, Lynn said the entire situation was an attempt to silence the caucus’s discussion and to create division among the members.

“Let’s not let that happen but let’s commit to be united in our respect for and our love of our Caucus as an institution,” she said.

While noting that the caucus had still not found out who leaked the initial email chain, Lynn finalized her thoughts, saying, “Whoever you are, you have not merely betrayed each of us who responded but you betray our Republican Party, our Republican Caucus and also your own seat.”

House Republican Caucus Chairman Glen Casada, R-Franklin, said Wednesday he was frustrated that the initial emails were released but ultimately said the conversation was nothing more than a public discussion.

“At the end of the day, our stuff is open,” he said, noting that the caucus does not perform or discuss legislative business using lawmakers’ personal email addresses.

Dave Boucher contributed to this report. 

Reach Joel Ebert at 615-772-1681 and on Twitter @joelebert29.