Park County Republican Sends Obscene Email to State Senator

A member of the Park County Republican Party faces local scrutiny after sending a threatening email to a fellow Republican state senator.

The Casper Star Tribune reports that Troy Bray, a precinct committeeman for the Park County Republican Party, sent an email to Senator Tara Nethercott, a fellow Wyoming Republican in the Wyoming Senate. The email was blunt and pulled no punches, to put it mildly.

The impetus of the email was a bill proposed during the last session of the Wyoming Legislature. The bill, co-sponsored by Park County Senator Tim French, would prohibit state governmental entities from mandating COVID-19 vaccines. It failed in a 4-1 vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee – which Nethercott presides over.

Bray’s email expressed his frustration with Nethercott’s handling of the bill – and it quickly got threatening and personal.

“I would just like to express to you how I feel about your handling of the bill that would already have negated Biden’s dictatorial actions for Wyoming’s citizens,” the email, which the Star-Tribune obtained, states. “You have never been my favorite person, but you have made a lasting enemy of me with these actions. Your shortsightedness and ignorance are astounding, and only your moral turpitude can compete with them as your defining character feature.”

From there, Bray’s sentiment escalated quickly.

“If I were as despicable a person as you, I would kill myself to rid the world of myself. You sicken me. Thank you for ensuring that the people of Wyoming are subjected to tyranny once again.”

The email finished with some specific four-letter words. One starts with “f”, while the other is specifically derogatory towards women.

While Bray sent the email from his personal account, he signed it with his official Park County titles.

The letter is signed by Troy Bray, Precinct Committeeman, Park County (9-7)” as well as “Secretary, Park County Republican Men’s Club.”

Nethercott responded to Bray’s email, commiserating with his frustration and fervent desire to prevent vaccine mandates. She neglected to comment on Bray’s ad-hominem attacks.

Nethercott noted that the bill – had it passed – would have only prevented state government entities from mandating vaccines. It would have had no power over President Joe Biden’s order that all federal employees get vaccinated.

The email has led to Bray’s resignation – requested rather than offered – as Secretary of the Park County Republican Men’s Club. However, he remains a member of the Park County Central Committee as Precinct Committeeman, Park County 9-7.

Martin Kimmet, chairman of the Park County Republican Party, said Bray did not send the email in his official capacity.

In Kimmet’s view, the sentiment in Bray’s letter is his own as a precinct person – not the party’s central committee. Kimmet hasn’t said if he will ask for Bray’s resignation from his elected post in the party. He will, however, ask him to apologize to Nethercott.

Bray hasn’t shied away from controversial statements in the past. During a March meeting of the Park County Republican Party Central Committee, he suggested doctors should face unemployment or capital punishment.

“There are power-hungry dictators with an MD behind their name that need to be fired — or executed,” he said. “I’m good with either one.”

Frank Eathorne, Chairman of the Wyoming Republican Party, says Bray will not face any repercussions from the state party. The onus of action, he says, lies with the county party.