Nashville, Tennessee – Family members representing the six individuals tragically killed in a school shooting in Nashville last year have taken action by filing an ethics complaint against a Tennessee state senator. The complaint alleges that the senator is pursuing his own interests by engaging in legal battles to access the shooter’s writings and introducing legislation that would hinder third parties, such as the victims’ families, from intervening in public records lawsuits.
Senator Todd Gardenhire, along with others, submitted requests for access to the shooter’s journals and other materials obtained by Metro Nashville Police during their investigation, prompting a legal dispute. Despite the police’s assurance to release the documents once the investigation is concluded, the senator filed a lawsuit alongside multiple individuals to expedite the process. This legal battle has been further complicated by disagreements on who should be allowed to participate in the lawsuit.
The Covenant School, the Covenant Presbyterian Church, and a group of Covenant parents sought to intervene in the case to prevent the disclosure of sensitive information that could compromise the security of their institution and potentially traumatize students. The court eventually granted them the right to be involved in the lawsuit. As the case progresses, a hearing is scheduled to commence on Tuesday.
In response to the court’s decision on intervention, Senator Gardenhire introduced a bill that prohibits non-governmental third parties from intervening in public records lawsuits. The ethics complaint accuses the senator of leveraging his position to pass legislation that favors his agenda and without disclosure of his involvement in the ongoing records lawsuit. The bill passed the Senate without debate on March 18 and is set to be reviewed by the House of Representatives.
A victim’s rights group has rallied against the legislation, emphasizing the detrimental impact it could have on victims seeking justice and closure. The fate of the ethics complaint rests with the Senate Ethics Committee, which will assess its merits during the legislative session. In recent years, the committee has demonstrated a willingness to act decisively in cases involving ethical misconduct among state senators.