State Representative Justin Pearson (D-Memphis) said in Tuesday’s remarks to German-owned Politico that U.S. Representative Steve Cohen (D-TN-09), whom he is challenging in the Democratic primary next year, deserves little credit for the cancellation of two industrial projects within the 9th Congressional District.
According to Pearson, despite Cohen appearing to actively participate in the successful efforts to stop the Byhalia oil pipeline in 2021 and to close the Sterilization Services of Tennessee facility in Memphis two years ago, the congressman only acted because Pearson and his allies urged him.
Pearson told E&E News, the environmental news service by Politico, “All those things were done at my request and at the request of our coalition,” and said Cohen’s actions were merely a part of his success.
“They were part of the strategy that I was pushing for and helping to implement as part of our coalition,” he told the outlet.
Despite Pearson claiming the victories as his own, Cohen, who has served in Congress since 2007, was the first to be informed of the the closure of the Sterilization Services of Tennessee facility, as the company announced its decision in a letter sent to the congressman.
Cohen also issued a statement celebrating the termination of plans to build the Byhalia Connection oil pipeline. He cited Pearson among several activists who prompted the decision.
“I am very pleased this proposed pipeline won’t threaten our aquifer,” said Cohen. “Hats off to Justin Pearson, Kathy Robinson, Councilman Jeff Warren, Save the Aquifer, MCAP and all the community members whose relentless effort brought the issue to national attention and encouraged the Reverend William Barber and former Vice President Al Gore to come to Memphis to engage in this fight.”
The reporting by Politico represents only the latest national attention received by Pearson, who made national headlines for being expelled from the Tennessee House of Representatives, alongside State Representative Justin Jones (D-Nashville), for their participation in a gun control riot. Both men were later returned to their seats on an interim basis before being reelected.
Since receiving an early endorsement from the Justice Democrats, a progressive political action committee (PAC) launched by former staffers of Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Pearson has also received favorable coverage from the national news publication NOTUS and the progressive magazine The Nation.
The 9th Congressional District is the last remaining Democratic stronghold in Tennessee, and analysts have speculated it could be redrawn to lean Republican if the U.S. Supreme Court reins in the Electoral Count Act in an upcoming decision.
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Tom Pappert is a 2025 recipient of the Dao Prize and the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star. He also reports for the Star News Network. Follow Tom on X. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Justin Pearson” by Justin Pearson. Photo “Steve Cohen” by Steve Cohen.
It will be nice watchin Cohen eating fried chicken in Memphis instead of D.C.
These Communists sure do love killing things. Jobs, societies, people…
Pearson is a liberal jackass bragging about stopping the creation of jobs.