Tennessee Lawmaker Calls Sending Unsolicited Nudes at 53 'Youthful Indiscretions'
Brent Taylor, a Republican running for Congress, acknowledged the behavior but stated his wife is aware and they have moved past it.
A married Tennessee state lawmaker running for U.S. House has admitted to sending unsolicited nude photos, characterizing the acts as "youthful indiscretions" despite being 53 years old at the time.
Brent Taylor, a 58-year-old Republican state senator, is seeking election to the U.S. House in Tennessee's 9th District while also running for state Senate reelection. He acknowledged the sexting history after it was reported by the Nashville Scene.
According to reports, one source received a nude photo from Taylor as recently as 2021. When asked about the allegations, Taylor told the Nashville Scene, "As I near 60 years old, the expiration date has come and gone on any of my youthful indiscretions."
Taylor confirmed to ActionNews5 that he had sent the photos, stating they were all sent to a single woman. He also released a statement asserting that his wife is aware of the situation, has forgiven him, and that they have moved past it.
"I’m willing to acknowledge my past indiscretion. The frustrating part is that my wife now has to relive this nonsense we’ve already worked through years ago together and moved on from," Taylor said in the statement. He expressed confidence that Tennessee voters would not be concerned with "this type of past nonsense."
Taylor has served in the state Senate since 2023. He is competing in the 9th Congressional District race against Democratic state Rep. Justin Pearson, and independents Dennis Clark and Michelle Head.
Pearson, who was previously expelled from the Tennessee House in 2023, criticized Taylor's remarks. "Men of faith –– let alone men who are married, in their fifties, and in public office –– have no business sending unsolicited nude photos to women," Pearson stated. "Taylor's belief that sending unwanted naked photos of himself to women at 53 years old is 'youthful indiscretion' is a ridiculous and dangerous mischaracterization of the type of predatory behavior that needs to be rooted out of our society and politics."
Tennessee's 9th Congressional District is the state's only Democratic-held seat in the U.S. House. The incumbent, Rep. Steven Cohen, announced he would retire at the end of his term following a controversial redistricting plan that altered his district. The Cook Political Report rates the reconfigured district as "Solid R."
Early voting in Tennessee is currently underway and is scheduled to conclude on Thursday.