Candidate for Circuit Court Judge in Rutherford and Cannon Counties, Nathan Nichols, releases this statement about the attacks from the Barry Tidwell Campaign concerning a direct mail postcard Nichols sent to potential voters. The mailer stated that Judge Tidwell granted the request of convicted child rapist, Kyle Summars (raped a 12 yr old), to live in the same house as an 11-yr old girl. Mr. Nichols believes this is proof that Tidwell should no longer be a Judge in Rutherford and Cannon Counties. The facts are clear and easily obtained through court records. Mr. Nichols has published these documents on his website in their entirety without any edits.

Nichols stated, "The mailer my campaign sent a week ago concerning Barry Tidwell's ruling on February 9, 2018 in which he granted the request of convicted child rapist, Kyle Summars, to live with an 11-yr old girl was absolutely true. There is nothing misleading or false about it. My opponent now says we are engaged in "gutter politics". Yet, Mr. Tidwell has offered no explanation for why he made this egregious ruling. All he can do is criticize and threaten me--the messenger. I stand by what I said because, for my entire adult life, I have been standing up for crime victims and their families--many of whom had been sexually assaulted or molested. Most of my career has been spent as a prosecutor and I have seen, first-hand, the dangers posed to children by sexual predators. To clarify any half-truths put out by some, while Mr. Tidwell did change his order two weeks later on February 23, 2018, it was only after the State of Tennessee requested he do so in a very strongly worded motion. On February 9, 2018, he granted the request, and let his order stand for two weeks before changing his mind. That's two weeks, too long."

The actual court documents can be reviewed at nicholsforjudge.com or at the County Courthouse.

"This is a very simple, but disheartening case. Before Mr. Tidwell looks to me for an "apology", maybe he should make one to the 11-year old child he authorized a convicted child rapist to live with. I'm glad to answer any and all questions from media", added Nichols.