Local reps say leaked chat illustrates tensions within NH GOP

LACONIA — A chat supposedly containing several members of Republican leadership of the New Hampshire House was leaked to the media earlier this week. A local legislator is asking why some of their peers are permitted to invoke threats of violence to fellow lawmakers, while others are removed from committee seats for the transgression of voting their conscience.

The chat was first reported in a May 12 article published on the Granite Post website. The article included screenshots from a Signal chat group titled “Liberty Caucus.” In the screenshot, which appears to capture a chat dated April 13, Rep. James Spillane (Rockingham 2) appears to argue for stricter consequences for Republican legislators who vote against party leadership.

“Whether by revoking committee, parking spots, flogging them in the state house square, egging their house, or slashing their tires ... whatever fits the crime,” reads the screenshot attributed to Spillane.

Spillane did not respond to requests to authenticate or deny the screenshot. Sherman Packard, speaker of the NH House, also did not respond to interview requests placed with his office. Staff there said he was traveling. 

For Laconia Rep. Mike Bordes (Belknap 5), the chat illustrates hypocrisy within Republican leadership.

“Let’s face it, if this was a Democrat that did this people, would be up in arms,” Bordes said. “I think we need to treat both parties equally. When somebody does something bad, they should be called out for what they do.”

However, there’s no indication at this point that Spillane has faced any consequence for invoking the possibility of physical harm or property damage. Bordes noted threatening a lawmaker in New Hampshire is a Class B felony.

Spillane’s chat might have been in jest, but Bordes countered, “That’s not even a joking matter. Why, because somebody votes a little differently than you? That’s not what this country was built on.

"It’s my job to listen to my constituents and do the best for my constituents, not the party.”

Now in his third term, Bordes said he’s seen this kind of “strong-arm” tactic, as he called it, in effect more than ever.

“This year is the worst of it,” he said. “We’ve got a larger majority this time, people are getting more extreme with their views, and trying to push their strength too far.”

He said other representatives are now voting out of fear of reprisal, rather than being responsive to constituents.

“It’s getting out of control. Once we start putting threats out there, you could say he was joking, but that’s something you don’t joke about,” Bordes said. “If you look at the actual context of the message, it doesn’t look like joking to me.”

Another Republican lawmaker who viewed the chat in a negative light was Matt Coker of Meredith, who represents Belknap 2. He said he’s known about the chat since “mid-April.”

“The rumors had gone around, I had seen some screenshots from the chat, I guess it’s not a very secure chat,” Coker said.

He said he hasn’t taken Spillane’s comments as directly threatening.

“I don’t worry that Jim’s going to do any of those things,” Coker said, “I’m more disappointed that that’s how he feels. I thought he was more of an independent thinker.”

A spokesperson for the state Department of Justice would not confirm or deny whether the department is looking into the matter.

Coker said he’s also disappointed at the party's response. There’s been no apparent consequence for the rhetoric, in fact it seems to be getting only more extreme since, especially on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

“They’re online making fun of it. They were on Twitter saying, ‘Oh, I like it when leadership pushes around people,'” Coker said. “They’re doubling down, they don’t care.”

Coker is in his second term. When first elected, he ran as a Democrat, then switched caucuses partway through his first term. At the time, he said his reason for changing parties was because he felt the Democratic Party wouldn’t accommodate views differing from party leadership. He said he still feels that was the right decision, as he has been more able to build effective coalitions as a Republican.

The heightened pressure from leadership doesn’t bother him, Coker said, but he’s concerned about the effect it might have on other legislators.

“What bothers me about this is leadership should be setting examples for newer members,” Coker said. “There are people who are legitimately scared for their safety, and I don’t blame them.”

Coker said he knows of House members who have removed legislator plates from their cars out of fear of harassment.

“I don’t worry about Jim. I worry about, what if someone who isn’t stable reads that seriously? That’s what scares me,” Coker said. “It’s a really sad state that our politics have gotten into that this is normal. This would have been huge news a couple of years ago and now, nobody cares.”