NASHVILLE, TN – The Tennessee Republican Party is calling on Kent Williams, the inexperienced state representative installed as House Speaker by Democrat legislators last week, to tell the whole truth about a series of incidents in 2007 in which he allegedly sexually harassed a female lawmaker. The trouble allegations surfaced this week when the news media obtained a copy of a memo recording details of the incidents in 2007, shortly after Williams, who is married, began his first term in the legislature.

Although Williams currently is denying he ever sexually harassed the female lawmaker, the memo from 2007 records him as apologizing for his actions – and, so far, none of the witnesses and involved parties other than Williams have refuted the memo’s facts or details.

Williams today told members of the media today that he is “prohibited from elaborating on any details” of the incidents because of legislative rules, adding, “I wish my hands weren’t tied but they are.”

“That’s absurd,” said Bill Hobbs, communications director for the Tennessee Republican Party. “The legislature’s confidentiality policy is meant to protect the victim of sexual harassment, not the alleged perpetrator.”

“Most Tennesseans had never heard of Kent Williams until last week, when the little-known legislator managed to get himself installed as Speaker through a process of backroom deals, betrayal and lies,” Hobbs said. “Unfortunately, they are coming to know him now as an alleged sexual harasser who is trying to dance away from serious allegations by saying ‘no comment’ and hiding behind technicalities.

“Rep. Williams owes the people the truth about what he said or did to a female colleague two years ago,” Hobbs said. “Until they get the truth, a skeptical public has one more reason to worry about the character of the man Democrats installed in the Speaker’s chair.”