Tennessee House Republicans Move to Expel Three Democrats over Last Week’s Protests that Disrupted House Proceedings

The Tennessee House of Representatives moved on Monday to expel three Democrats who led a protest on the House floor last week, disrupting House proceedings.

Last Thursday, The Tennessee Star reported that more than a thousand protesters pushing for gun control rioted at the Tennessee State Capitol and attempted to gain entry to the House chamber from the gallery above and the ground floor.

Democrat State Representatives Justin Jones (D-Nashville), Justin Pearson (D-Memphis), and Gloria Johnson (D-Knoxville) disrupted House proceedings by shouting encouragement to the protesters from the well of the House. Representatives Jones and Pearson used a bullhorn to amplify their protests.

On Monday, Republican State Representatives Andrew Farmer (R-Sevierville), Gino Bulso (R-Brentwood), and Bud Hulsey (R-Kingsport) introduced HR0063, HR0064, and HR0065 – resolutions to expel Representatives Jones, Johnson, and Pearson.

Members of the House voted along party lines (72-23) to move all three resolutions to Thursday’s session to be voted on expulsion. It takes a two-thirds vote of the chamber to expel a member.

While lawmakers were voting on the resolutions, spectators in the balconies shouted “fascists, fascists!” before being escorted out by state troopers at the request of House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville).

Yes, Every Kid

Citing Article II, Section 12 of the Tennessee Constitution, the resolutions declare that Democrat Representatives Jones, Johnson, and Pearson “did knowingly and intentionally bring disorder and dishonor to the House of Representatives through their individual and collective actions” during the House Floor Session (19th Legislative Day) on March 30th.

The resolutions go on to state that all three Democrat lawmakers “shouted, pounded on the podium, led chants with citizens in the gallery, and generally engaged in disorderly and disruptive conduct, including refusing to leave the well, sitting on the podium, and utilizing a sign displaying a political message.”

Also on Monday, sources inside the Capitol said all three were removed from all committee assignments and had their entry cards de-activated.

Watch Monday’s House Floor session:

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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network.
Image “State Rep Justin Jones on the House Floor” by The Tennessee General Assembly.

 

 

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13 Thoughts to “Tennessee House Republicans Move to Expel Three Democrats over Last Week’s Protests that Disrupted House Proceedings”

  1. Kevin

    The Democrats are arresting their political opponents on trumped up (no pun intended) charges and have held without trial dozens of Jan 6 rioters and they, with a straight face, call expelling state House members for rules violations while inciting a riot “fascism.”

  2. KAREN BRACKEN

    They absolutely MUST be expelled or our Assembly will be reduce to a joke. This is TN not DC. EXPEL!!

  3. Tom Richardson

    Way past time that these thugs suffer at least some consequences for acting out in session. Now to deal with their counterparts in the streets….

  4. Joe Blow

    I have what I think to be a better idea. Allow them to keep their position but strip them of all committee and subcommittee appointments. The speaker can then choose to ignore them on the house floor.

    This approach keeps them locked into their jobs with no authority and their obviously leftwing constituents cannot replace them with other zealots until the next election cycle.

  5. Phyllis West

    These so called Representatives knew the Rules of the House before they revved up those stupid protest.
    They should suffer the consequences. Maybe others who are thinking of going rogue need to be be reminded that Actions Have Consequences. They have humiliated the Tax payers in Tennessee.

  6. Bill J Carithers

    I dont know about elected officials illegally acting over the horrible shooting but I DO THINK OUT-OF-STATE demonstrators should definitely be identified along with any organized plan to protest in this matter ! One question I might bring up, having grown up in the Plains states and the South West where the past most male members of society were armed. The percent of the population killed by fire armed idiots was much less than today. Why ? Because other crimes were punished. . .Capital crimes were usually hung in less than a month after conviction which presented a FEAR factor against murder ! ! !

  7. Dr Ken

    Yes, these three should be expelled for what is tantamount to inciting an insurrection. Their actions clearly revealed their contempt for the Assembly and their colleagues. Expel them now!

  8. Debbie

    Seems mild, just to be kicked off committee assignments and a pass card deactivation? No lifetime prohibition from serving in an office of public trust in any capacity?

  9. Jack Dobson

    Excellent. There also needs to be a criminal referral made on them as well.

    Tennessee Republicans are showing their cowardly national counterparts what has to be done to check these communist pigs.

  10. David Blackwell RN, BSN, CCM

    They are like children.

  11. Randy

    Stand by for a full Democratic Party led faux media blitz about the poor little legislators that are being treated badly. That is their narrative, “Victim-hood”. Forget that the three of them have victimized the residents of the districts they are suppose to represent.

  12. LakeDweller

    Good. Tennessee is leading the nation in standing up for America. I hope the House follows through and expels the Communist activists.

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