Stewart Parks, the latest candidate to announce that he is actively running in the Republican primary for Tennessee’s Fifth Congressional District, is also facing charges stemming from the January 6 Capitol incident. Currently, Parks is collecting qualifying petitions.
The Tennessee Star confirmed with Parks that he is indeed the individual that is facing federal charges in connection with the events of January 6, 2021. Parks told to The Star, “I did nothing wrong.” He also said that he believes the charges will have no logistical effect on his ability to campaign for TN-5.
Parks is facing five misdemeanor federal charges based on his alleged actions that took place during the January 6th incident at the Capitol.
Parks is charged with:
- Entering and Remaining in a Restricted Building or Grounds, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1752(a).
- Disorderly and Disruptive Conduct in a Restricted Building or Grounds, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1752(a).
- Disorderly Conduct in a Capitol Building, in violation of Title 40, United States Code, Section 5104(e)(2)(D).
- Parading, Demonstrating, or Picketing in a Capitol Building, in violation of Title 40, United States Code, Section 5104(e)(2)(G).
- Theft of Government Property, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 641.
According to court records, Parks is represented by attorney John Machado and the case is pending in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. He is out on release pending trial. The court permitted Parks to travel abroad due to his work as a realtor. Parks has an active realtor license in Tennessee.
It remains unclear what impact Parks’ pending federal case will have on his efforts to run for TN-5.
Parks said he is running because the United States is in trouble.
“We’re in trouble. The people of Tennessee are very upset. We saw what happened in 2020. The election was stolen.” he said. “We’re in a very big mess. Biden left Afghanistan in shambles. Ukraine has been invaded due to Biden’s incompetence. The hardworking people of Tennessee are suffering with inflation, massively higher gas prices, and they often can’t find what they need in the grocery store.”
Park continued, “Biden has created the worst inflation in 40 years. Violent crime is at an all time high. We have Americans still stranded in Afghanistan and Ukraine. None of that should be happening because Donald Trump won the election.”
Park’s faith is very important to him.
“We need to put the Bible back in our schools.” he said. “We’ve got people growing up that they don’t even know what gender they are.”
Parks also told The Star that he wants to put an end to child gender reassignment surgery.
Parks said when he gets to the U.S. House of Representatives, he will work to “end abortion.” He also is currently working on a draft of articles of impeachment against Biden.
“When I am elected in November, I will file articles of impeachment against Biden. He stole the 2020 election and is ruining the country,” he said.
Parks also said he wants to work to strengthen privacy laws and end Section 230. The congressional candidate added that “social media companies need to pay the price for their censorship.”
He plans to donate his congressional salary, should he be elected.
“Once I am elected I will be donating all my congressional income to churches and other Christian organizations that benefit the Middle Tennessee community,” he said.
Parks described himself as a realtor with a background in construction.
“I was born and raised in Tennessee. I went to Ole Miss to get a degree in economics and bus administration. I own several real estate and construction entities,” he said.
Candidates seeking to appear on the ballot for the TN-5 GOP primary are required to collect 25 valid signatures from registered voters and have until noon on April 7 to turn in those qualifying petitions.
Other candidates that are publicly seeking the GOP nomination in the Tennessee Fifth Congressional District Republican primary are former Speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives Beth Harwell, California native and music video director Robby Starbuck, businessman Baxter Lee, former Brig. Gen. Kurt Winstead, Tennessee newcomer and former State Department spokesman Morgan Ortagus, and Natisha Brooks. Several others are collecting qualifying petitions for the race.
Sources tell The Star that Maury County Mayor Andy Ogles is planning to run. Tennessee state Senate staffer Tres Wittum is still considering whether or not to enter the race.
The primary is set to take place on August 4.
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Aaron Gulbransen is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Email tips to [email protected]. Follow Aaron on GETTR.
Photo “Stewart Parks” by Stewart Parks.Â
