Tennessee State Representative Justin Jones (D-Nashville) claimed on Thursday that his Democratic colleagues are “bought and paid for” by House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville) in a now-deleted post to social media.
Jones wrote in a post to X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, that “Speaker Sexton has bought and paid for Dem leadership in the Tennessee House.” He accused Sexton of directing Democratic “silence and performance based on what’s best for him.”
The “Tennessee Three” member then claimed Sexton “faces no real challenge to his power” from Jones’ Democratic colleagues, and asserted the “complicity” of Democrats and Republicans “has aided in the destruction of our state.”
Jones appears to have made the post at 8:22 p.m. on Thursday, and it was deleted by time Tennessee Journal editor Erik Schelzig posted a screenshot to his X account at 8:48 p.m.
“Things don’t seem to be going well between Rep. Justin Jones and the House Democratic Caucus in Tennessee,” wrote Schelzig, referencing the “since-deleted tweet” by Jones.
Things don’t seem to be going well between Rep. Justin Jones and the House Democratic Caucus in Tennessee, according to this since-deleted tweet by @brotherjones_ pic.twitter.com/P8rIWmXVNG
— Erik Schelzig (@schelzig) March 29, 2024
The fracas from Jones regarding his Democratic colleagues appears to be the latest crack to form in the relationship between the controversial Tennessee Three member and his party’s caucus.
Jones was expelled from the Tennessee House of Representatives in 2023, in a vote that also suspended Representative Justin Pearson (D-Memphis) and nearly suspended Representative Gloria Johnson (D-Knoxville), due to his participation in a gun control riot that spilled into the Tennessee Capitol. Pearson and Jones were quickly returned to office by local government officials.
Tensions between Jones and his caucus were similarly questioned in February, when a House staffer for State Representative Torrey Harris (D-Memphis) was suspended for the duration of the 2024 legislative session due to an alleged disagreement with Jones.
According to media reports, State Senator Sara Kyle (D-Memphis) joked that Jones planned to charge $20 for a selfie, prompting a staffer for Harris to question the representative’s ethics.
After the staffer was suspended, Harris made a post to X, suggesting it was due to “unproductive shenanigans” from his “most ineffective colleague.”
The incident is also the latest in Jones’ history of alleged and confirmed outbursts.
In 2017, before Jones was elected to office, he and a group of activists stood outside the office door of former State Senator Mae Beavers for hours, knocking incessantly. When Beavers attempted to open the door, reports indicate Jones and his collaborators tried to force entry to her office.
An arrest warrant for Jones was issued the following year due to an outburst he caused at a rally held by Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN).
Earlier this year, Jones also raised eyebrows when he declined to lead the Tennessee House in the Pledge of Allegiance near the beginning of the legislative session.
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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].
Phot “State Rep Justin Jones” by State Rep Justin Jones.
Because they would not support his radical agenda!
Maybe Phil Williams should investigate this