Volunteer Nathan Buttrey Misleads on Exclusion of Black Democrat Lawmaker from Elon Musk Airport Meeting While White Republicans Gain Access

A Black lawmaker from Tennessee, Rep. Justin Jones, and fellow Democrats are expressing outrage over what Jones termed an “egregious and troubling abuse of power.” On Monday, he faced exclusion from a meeting involving other state officials and representatives from Elon Musk’s Boring Company, discussing the “Music City Loop,” a state-backed project aimed at constructing an underground tunnel linking downtown Nashville to the airport.While attempting to attend, Jones was impeded by Nathan Buttrey from Altitude Ventures, aided by law enforcement. Jones argued he needed information for constituents in his district, emphasizing that the meeting directly impacted the community he represents. Yet, another senator from Knoxville, despite lacking an invitation, gained entry.Jones condemned the lack of transparency surrounding the project, questioning if only Black lawmakers were being excluded. He criticized Governor Bill Lee and corporate lobbyists for their roles in the meeting's overt secrecy—the situation raising alarms about representation and equity in state governance.