A Tennessee House staffer for State Representative Torrey Harris (D-Memphis) was suspended from her position as an executive legislative analyst until after the 2024 legislative session concludes.
The Tennessee General Assembly Director of Legislative Administration confirmed in a January 30 letter that the staffer “had an inappropriate confrontation with a Member of the House of Representatives” and “failed to maintain a satisfactory and harmonious working relationship” and disrupting work in the Tennessee House.
It has since been reported the staffer, who has not been identified by the media, was suspended after a confrontation with Representative Justin Jones (D-Nashville) on January 9. The memo explained she will be suspended until May 3, just over a week after the 2024 legislative session ends on April 25.
The staffer reportedly confronted Jones, according to remarks Harris made to WKRN after a group of students sought “a photo with Representative Jones” and Jones allegedly “was going to charge them $20 to take the photo.”
Jones (pictured above, right) denied the accusation to the outlet, and State Senator Sara Kyle (D-Memphis) confirmed, “we jokingly said, ‘No, no, $20 a picture, kiddingly” prior to the confrontation. She further told the outlet she did not know about the alleged incident, despite it reportedly happening outside her office, until days after it occurred.
In addition to her role at the Tennessee General Assembly, a LinkedIn profile reviewed by The Tennessee Star reveals the staffer was once employed for The Equity Alliance, was elected to a position with the Davidson County Young Democrats, and has been affiliated with the Nashville African American Wind Symphony for over two years.
Days after his staffer was suspended, Harris (pictured above, left) wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, “My most ineffective colleague set me back a bit with their unproductive shenanigans so I’m doing a lot of catching up.”
This was a hard week! My most ineffective colleague set me back a bit with their unproductive shenanigans so I'm doing a lot of catching up! I know it's late..but I am glad to share with everyone my 2024 legislative agenda in just a few minutes.#ButForTheGoodOfOthers #HighRoad
— Representative Torrey Harris (@TorreyHarris901) February 3, 2024
The disputed confrontation is the latest incident, including Jones, who began his Tennessee political advocacy with a series of provocative stunts.
In 2017, Jones and a group of activists stood outside the office of former State Senator Mae Beavers and knocked incessantly. When she attempted to open the door to ask them to lower their voices, Jones and the group of activists reportedly attempted to force entry into her office. Her young, female staffer was left surrounded by activists in the office’s reception area.
The next year, a warrant for Jones’ arrest was issued after he caused an outburst during a rally held by Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) in Nashville, struggling with law enforcement as he was ejected.
Most recently, Jones made headlines after he refused to lead the Tennessee House of Representatives in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, prompting calls for his resignation.
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Georgia Star News, The Virginia Star, and the Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Torrey Harris” by Torrey Harris. Background Photo “Tennessee State House Chamber” by Antony-22. CC BY-SA 4.0.
Jones is a sh** stirring troublemaker who wants nothing more than the press he gets for his arrogance.
Why is he still in state government?
Yes. For some reason they’re scared of the little fart
Sorry Kurt. But you were already beaten here by a bunch of leftist transplants.. Trashville has been sinking for well over a decade. The Left Coasters and NE Libtards have been infecting Trashville since the late 1990’s. It was a comfortable nest for them due to the already generationally established Dimocrap stoopidity and corruption. But Memphis is still TN’s champ of leftist buffoonery.
Speaking as a native, the best you can do is get the Hades away from Trashville/Davidson county. We have some great new neighbors from Cali, Washington, Illinois and Michigan but we’re all up in the Upper Cumberland and away from the cities.
It remains to be seen if all the new transplants will overwhelm and eventually sink our conservative boat (the tides already shifting in some counties.) You may be a “good ‘un” like our neighbors, but far too many people following you aren’t.
this so “head on the Nail” it’s not even funny. A staffer is suspended but he “fails to maintain a satisfactory and harmonious working relationship” on the house floor and he is re-elected by the same foolish and brain washed people who want nothing but the power to control the state. I expect this from my home state of CA, but not here. I moved her to escape the fools curse!
[ “failed to maintain a satisfactory and harmonious working relationship” and disrupting work in the Tennessee House.]
Uh, I can think of three individuals who are guilty of such, yet, they remain in office.
By those same rules, shouldn’t Jones be suspended?