According to WGNS Radio, Republican candidate Nathan Nichols released a statement about his opponent's demands for an apology.

Earlier this week, incumbent Judge Barry Tidwell's attorney released a letter demanding Nichols apologize in a public manner and report himself to the Board of Professional Responsiblity a mailer he sent around April 20 that said Tidwell "ruled that a child rapist could live in the same house as an 11-year-old girl."

In response, Nichols posted on his website "evidence that Judge Barry Tidwell permitted a violent child rapist to live in the same house as an 11-yr old girl" and gave this statement to WGNS Radio.

"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."

"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," Nichols said.

Tidwell's attorney Brad Hornsby said in a follow up to the letter that Tidwell signed an order to allow Summars to live with a child because the District Attorney's office failed to inform the court properly. 

"Mr. Nichols also fails to point out that the DA’s office initially did not even oppose the motion of the defendant (judges often rely on the positions of the DA’s office who are generally very aware of the particular facts and law). The failure of Mr. Nichols to reveal these pertinent facts was either intentionally misleading or shows complete incompetence on his behalf as he is running for judge," Hornsby said.

And the next round begins now.