Weeks-Pay-Just-To-See-You-NakedGate

The document, which was prepared by Mumpower on the advice of counsel, recounts two incidents where Rep. Susan Lynn reported Williams' actions made her feel "sexually harassed."

The first incident documented in the memo occurred on March 27, 2007 in a legislative parking garage. The document states Lynn alleged that Williams and then Rep. Doug Overbey encountered her and Rep. Debra Maggart following a night of legislative receptions.

"Rep. Lynn said that when Rep. Williams came up to her and told her how beautiful she was. She said he also told her, 'I will give a weeks pay just to see you naked.'" Mumpower wrote.

But is this just a smear campaign? Mumpower, after all, must be pretty pissed about the stunning humiliation Williams and his fairweather Democratic allies dealt him.

From Aunt B. on Tiny Cat Pants: 

If it's not true, it's unfortunate that it's been dredged up again.  Spreading this untruth would basically prove that all the Republican hand-wringing over how big a bunch of untrustworthy liars the Democrats and Williams are is just theater to cover their own untrustworthiness and lies.

But I'm with Woods.  I don't see any evidence of a Republican smear campaign.  Kleinheider and I talked about this alleged incident a while back and it doesn't seem like a far stretch to me to believe that something that was at the back of his mind then would be brought to the front when Williams blew up on the scene.

And Nashville Scene's Jeff Woods points this out: 

But there's no evidence this is part of any Republican smear campaign. It looks like Post Politics' Adam Kleinheider went after this memo on his own initiative. The memo wasn't leaked. Kleinheider says he made an open records request for it. The existence of the complaint, but not the details of it, has been common knowledge at the Capitol. Kudos to Kleinheider for getting to the bottom of it.

Finally, what has Williams to say? Not much. 

From the press release:

The Sexual Harassment Policy of the Tennessee General Assembly requires that any and all information falling under the parameters of the policy must be held confidential. The policy strictly prohibits the release of any information as upheld by the courts. 

...

However, I have never sexually harassed anyone nor have I been reprimanded for any such behavior.

Right now my focus continues to be on moving this state forward and getting to the business of governing. This week, I have brought House Democrats and Republicans together to coordinate bipartisan committee assignments and with these talks our forward momentum is building. I am looking forward to getting on with the people's business.