Terra Nova MHA Colin Holloway and Harbour Grace-Port de Grave MHA Pam Parsons have jointly filed a complaint to the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary regarding anonymous Twitter troll account @WackJobNL.
Holloway and Parsons — both Liberal MHAs — were at RNC Headquarters on Tuesday to file the complaint, which they say the RNC has accepted, and an investigation has begun, according to Holloway.
Holloway says over the weekend, tweets from the account spoke about himself and Parsons “leaking like a Bay Roberts sewer.”
More than that, Holloway says the tweets came off as threatening to himself and Parsons, which prompted the complaint to be filed with police.
There is some speculation about whether or not the account has ties to any current or former MHAs.
“We’re trying to figure out how close this person is to us and if there’s any real concern,” said Holloway.
Parsons says the pattern of tweets from the account is disturbing.
“If you look back, it’s very specifically targeted at certain politicians. First of all, it targets the NDP — a lot of hate tweets against the NDP. Also, hate has gone out about Paul Davis and the PCs,” Parsons said.
“So, it’s someone who seems to know or have followed closely politicians and the like.”
Neither Parsons nor Holloway speculated about who is behind the account.
Holloway says he has received two death threats since taking office. He says he discussed the threats with the RCMP.
Holloway and Parsons also filed formal complaints with Premier Dwight Ball and Commissioner of Legislative Standards Bruce Chaulk against former Liberal cabinet ministers Eddie Joyce and Dale Kirby on Monday.
Holloway didn’t say the exact nature of the complaints, only that they are similar to those previously filed against the two — harassment, but not sexual or physical in nature.
Holloway also filed formal complaints with Chaulk against Opposition Leader Paul Davis and Gerry Rogers, alleging they spread false information to the media on Monday.
While the exact nature of the complaints against Davis and Rogers is different than those against Joyce and Kirby, when the complaints came forth against Joyce and Kirby, they faced immediate consequences.
Progressive Conservative Leader Ches Crosbie says he sees no basis for suspending or ousting Davis from the PC caucus.
“I just don’t see the substance of the objection here or the complaint. I’m not getting it. So, if the commissioner decides that there’s substance to the complaint, we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. It’s lost on me at the moment,” Crosbie said.
Gerry Rogers said she had not seen the complaint in question, so reserved judgment on whether it would be best for her to recuse herself from the House.
“I do not know what the complaint has been. I was asked whether I received a letter. I said yes, I did. Then I was asked about the contents of that letter. I said to media, very clearly, that it would be best for the media to speak to the Town of Port Blandford,” Rogers said.
“I believe that Mr. Holloway is probably experiencing a lot of distress right now. I don’t know what he has accused me of. I’m willing to speak to him or to speak to whoever needs to speak to me about that issue.”
david.maher@thetelegram.com
Twitter: DavidMaherNL
