‘Downright creepy’: TPT note writer revealed… as Pawlenty’s press guy

There was an unsigned note sitting on TPT reporter Mary Lahammer’s capitol desk Tuesday morning. Scrawled across a printed copy of Lahammer’s blog post on how gender might be a factor in Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s recent line-item veto, the note reads:

Do you have any evidence related to this charge? These are pretty bold accusations.”

Lahammer took exception and posted the note on her blog, with the following comment:

Frankly, it’s rather creepy to me to have people putting accusatory notes in my office when I’m not there. I have had people stalk me, who leave anonymous notes, follow me and have threatened to kill me. This is true for almost anyone who works in television, so we’re a bit sensitive to such actions. So if anyone knows who is responsible, please let me know because it’s at the very least highly unprofessional and downright creepy.

So who was the highly unprofessional and downright creepy letter writer? None other than Pawlenty press secretary Brian McClung. In an e-mail sent to Lahammer after she published the note, McClung explained himself:

I left you that note around 6:00 p.m. yesterday. I came downstairs to talk with you, but when you weren’t there, I just wrote a note and left it. Unfortunately, I forgot to write my name on it, but after I slid it under the door I figured I’d just call you first thing Tuesday to discuss it. I didn’t intend it as an “anonymous” note, as I always planned to follow up with a call.

After making the long walk between the governor’s office and Lahammer’s desk, McClung was lucky to have a printed copy of the objectionable blog post in hand. Though it is surprising a press secretary would make such a mistake as forgetting to sign his name, it is not a mistake McClung is likely to repeat anytime soon.