State Representative Justin Pearson (D-Memphis) on Thursday appeared on Fox 13 to discuss the physical incident on the Tennessee State House floor that saw him physically restrained by colleagues and staff members during a disagreement over gun control legislation, and seemed to suggest State Representative Andrew Farmer (R-Sevierville) was responsible.
The interaction began on Wednesday when Pearson suggested lawmakers did not take public safety seriously as they debated his gun control legislation, prompting Farmer to question the appropriateness of the remarks after Pearson was absent for most of the legislative session following the December 2024 suicide of his brother.
Pearson first responded to Farmer’s comments, then appeared to lunge at him and shout expletives before he was physically restrained and removed from the floor.
In his Thursday interview, Pearson called Farmer “very disrespectful” and “making it seem as though I had no right to advocate on behalf of District 86 because I’ve been taking care of my nephews and making sure that our family, my mom and my dad, were okay, before coming back here.”
Pearson described the incident with Farmer as an “altercation” but also described Farmer’s words as “very upsetting,” as well as “horrible, degrading, denigrating, painful things,” and suggested the Republican lawmaker “wanted to attack me and attack our family.”
He also seemed to blame Farmer and Republicans for gun crime, including the suicide of his brother.
“And in fact, it’s because the inaction of people like Andrew Farmer,” said Pearson.
He claimed, “It’s because the inaction of people who are intransigent to this Republican, in this Republican party and in this Tennessee General Assembly, that we are dealing with the heartache and the pain that we are with the loss of my own brother.”
The Memphis Democrat later added, “And instead of trying to pass laws to deal with that, we’re getting a a a representative in essence saying, because I’ve been dealing with that grief, I don’t deserve to speak about this issue. It’s it’s absurd and unacceptable.”
“I’m gonna fight for district agencies. I’m gonna fight for my brother, Tim. I’m gonna fight for our community as long as I’m allowed to,” he said.
Pearson, who was one of two House lawmakers expelled in 2023 over their support for a pro-gun control riot after the Covenant School shooting, also suggested that Farmer’s support for that effort played a role in the altercation.
“It’s no coincidence that representative Farmer is the same person who wrote the resolution to expel me,” he told the outlet.
House leadership has announced it will review the incident involving Pearson and Farmer.
Watch the full interview with Pearson:
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Pennsylvania Daily Star and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Background Photo “Tennessee State House” by Antony-22. CC BY-SA 4.0.
Pearson sounds like antisemitic Al Sharpton.
Pearson is a liar@ He blames everyone else for everything bad he does!
Yeah. Right! Just another grandstanding outburst by Mr. Pearson.
Pearson should be removed. Nothing but trouble along with Justin Jones.
This “altercation” should be grounds for expelling this Marxist thug. Again.
Pearson is not in the legislature to solve problems. He is there to create them.
This is the usual liberal BS, blame others for your misdeeds. It reflects the stupidity of his constituents by the fact that he keeps getting reelected. You can’t fix stupid.