Rep. Justin Jones after the House voted to expel him on Thursday
Photo: Hamilton Matt Masters
Tennessee House Republicans voted Thursday to expel Rep. Justin Jones (D-Nashville) and Rep. Justin Pearson (D-Memphis) from the legislature after they led an anti-gun protest on the House floor last week.
A resolution to expel Rep. Gloria Johnson (D-Knoxville) failed by a single vote, with a 65-30 tally.
×
Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
kAm%96:C AC@E6DE 7@==@H65 E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?2D9G:==6D46?6]4@>^?6HD^A:E9:?E96H:?5^4@G6?2?E\D49@@=\D9@@E:?8\=62G6D\D6G6?\5625\:?\E2C86E65\2EE24<^2CE:4=60ba54a45e\45e5\``65\hba2\d3`h5da``fe7]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmkDEC@?8mr@G6?2?E $49@@= D9@@E:?8k^DEC@?8mk^2m :? }2D9G:==6 =2DE H66< E92E =67E E9C66 49:=5C6? 2?5 E9C66 DE277 >6>36CD 5625 2?5 EC:886C65 AC@E6DED 3J DEF56?ED 2?5 A2C6?ED 2E E96 r2A:E@=]k^Am
kAmQ%96J EC:65 E@ D9C65 @FC 4@?DE:EFE:@? H:E9 2 3F==9@C?[Q D2:5 #6A] v:?@ qF=D@ W#\qC6?EH@@5X]k^Am
kAm{68:D=2E:G6 3@5:6D 7C@> E96 >6>36CD’ 9@>6 4@F?E:6D 42? 2AA@:?E D@>6@?6 E@ 7:== E96 D62ED[ 2?5 DA64:2= 6=64E:@?D H:== =:<6=J 36 96=5 =2E6C E9:D J62C] y@?6D[ !62CD@? 2?5 y@9?D@? H@F=5 36 6=:8:3=6 6:E96C 7@C 2AA@:?E>6?E @C 6=64E:@?] $@>6 |6EC@ 4@F?4:=>6>36CD 92G6 2=C625J D2:5 E96J H@F=5 2AA@:?E y@?6D E@ E96 ?6H G242?4J[ 2?5 2=>@DE :>>65:2E6=J 27E6C y@?6DV 6IAF=D:@? ':46 |2J@C y:> $9F=>2? 42==65 2 |@?52J DA64:2= >66E:?8 E@ 368:? E96 AC@46DD @7 7:==:?8 E96 D62E]k^Am
kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E6??6DD62?]4@>^DE@CJ^?6HD^A@=:E:4D^a_ab^_c^_c^E6??6DD66\9@FD6\6IAF=D:@?D\9:DE@CJ\=68:D=2E:G6\>6>36CD^f__fhecg__f^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmkDEC@?8mtIAF=D:@? :D C2C6k^DEC@?8mk^2m :? E96 %6??6DD66 w@FD6 @7 #6AC6D6?E2E:G6D] #6A] y6C6>J sFC92> H2D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?2D9G:==6A@DE]4@>^A@=:E:4D^5FC92>\6IA6==65^2CE:4=60`a457d54\f3b5\d75`\2g_2\a`4ga7h46`gf]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmkDEC@?8m<:4<65 @FE @7 E96 w@FD6k^DEC@?8mk^2m :? a_`e 7@==@H:?8 2 D6C:6D @7 D6IF2= 92C2DD>6?E 2==682E:@?D] x? `hg_[ #6A] #@36CE u:D96C H2D 6IA6==65 7@C 2446AE:?8 2 3C:36] x? `gee[ D:I C6AC6D6?E2E:G6D H6C6 <:4<65 @FE @7 E96 w@FD6 7@C @AA@D:?8 4:G:= C:89ED 7@C E96 7@C>6C=J 6?D=2G65]k^Am
kAm%@ 368:? E96 AC@4665:?8D[ #6A] y@9??J v2CC6EE W#\v@@5=6EEDG:==6X >@G65 E@ DFDA6?5 E96 CF=6D E@ D9@H G:56@ 7C@> E96 52J @7 E96 AC@E6DE] s6>@4C2ED 2C8F65 E92E E96J 5:5 ?@E <?@H H96E96C E96 G:56@ H2D D6=64E:G6=J 65:E65 @C C6=6G2?E] #6AF3=:42?D 2==@H65 7@C E96 G:56@[ 762EFC:?8 4=:AD @7 E96 EC:@ DE2?5:?8 :? E96 H6== =625:?8 2?E:\8F? 492?ED 2?5 =2E6C 56D4C:3:?8 E96 6G6?ED :? 2 AC6DD 4@?76C6?46] s6>@4C2E:4 r2F4FD r92:C y@9? #2J r=6>>@?D @7 }2D9G:==6 2C8F65 E92E E96 #6AF3=:42? >6>36CD H9@ E@@< E96 G:56@ D9@F=5 36 AF?:D965[ 2D CF=6D AC@9:3:E C64@C5:?8 @? E96 7=@@C]k^Am
kAm%96 >62DFC6 E@ 6IA6= y@?6D H2D 962C5 7:CDE]k^Am
kAmx? 9:D 5676?D6[ y@?6D E92?<65 #6AF3=:42?D 7@C D9@H:?8 E96 G:56@ “3642FD6 :E D9@H65 E@ E96 H@C=5 E96 C:5:4F=@FD?6DD @7 E96 4=2:>D E92E E96 24E:@?D @7 E9@D6 H9@ H6?E E@ E96 H6== >6C:ED 6IAF=D:@?]”k^Am
kAmw6 A@:?E65 E@ E96 %6??6DD66 r@?DE:EFE:@?[ H9:49 C625D[ “p?J >6>36C @7 6:E96C w@FD6 @7 E96 v6?6C2= pDD6>3=J D92== 92G6 =:36CEJ E@ 5:DD6?E 7C@> 2?5 AC@E6DE 282:?DE[ 2?J 24E @C C6D@=G6 H9:49 96 >2J E9:?< :?;FC:@FD E@ E96 AF3=:4 @C E@ 2?J :?5:G:5F2=]”k^Am
kAm(:E9 E9C@?8D @7 AC@E6DE@CD 82E96C:?8 @FED:56 E96 r2A:E@= 2?5 :? E96 w@FD6 492>36C[ y@9?D@? 2?5 !62CD@? H6=4@>65 DFAA@CE6CD AC:@C E@ E96 G@E6[ 6?4@FC28:?8 E96> E@ C6>2:? D:=6?E E9C@F89@FE E96 AC@4665:?8D E@ 2G@:5 36:?8 C6>@G65 7C@> E96 82==6CJ]k^Am
kAmw@FD6 =6256CD DFDA6?565 E96 CF=6D E@ E2<6 FA D6G6C2= D49@@= D276EJ\C6=2E65 3:==D @FE @7 @C56C 2E E96 E@A @7 E96 7=@@C D6DD:@?[ 2 >@G6 y@?6D 42==65 2? “@AE:42= DA64E24=6]”k^Am
kAm“*@F 32? 3@@<D[ J@F 32? 5C28[ <:5D 2C6 DE:== :? 3@5J 328D[” E96 4C@H5 492?E65 2D =68:D=2E:G6 3FD:?6DD H2D @?8@:?8 :? E96 w@FD6]k^Am
kAmpEE6?566D 492?E65 :? DFAA@CE @7 E96 EC:@ 2?5 42==65 #6AF3=:42? =6256CD 72D4:DED 2D E96J >@G65 :?E@ E96 492>36C] (:E9 2F5:6?46 D64E:@?D 23@G6 E96 492>36C 7F==[ 255:E:@?2= DFAA@CE6CD H2E4965 E96 AC@4665:?8D @? E6=6G:D:@?D :? E96 =@33J 2?5 @? E96:C A9@?6D] %96:C 492?ED H6C6 2F5:3=6 7C@> H:E9:? E96 492>36C]k^Am
kAm%96 C6D@=FE:@? E@ 6IA6= y@?6D A2DD65 fa\ad] #6AF3=:42? #6A] r92C=:6 q2F> H2D E96 =@?6 v~! >6>36C @AA@D:?8 E96 C6D@=FE:@?[ H9:=6 #6AF3=:42? #6A] $2> (9:ED@? 5:5 ?@E G@E6]k^Am
kAm%96 >@G6 92D 5C2H? ?2E:@?2= 2EE6?E:@?]k^Am
kAm“%96 724E E92E E9:D G@E6 :D 92AA6?:?8 :D D9@4<:?8[ F?56>@4C2E:4 2?5 H:E9@FE AC64656?E[” (9:E6 w@FD6 AC6DD D64C6E2CJ z2C:?6 y62?\!:6CC6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^EH:EE6C]4@>^;@6J82CC:D@?^DE2EFD^`ecc_b_h_gdcd__bdagnDla_Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmkDEC@?8mD2:5k^DEC@?8mk^2m %9FCD52J] “p4C@DD %6??6DD66 2?5 24C@DD p>6C:42[ @FC <:5D 2C6 A2J:?8 E96 AC:46 7@C E96 24E:@?D @7 #6AF3=:42? =2H>2<6CD]”k^Am
kAmy@?6D H2D 7:CDE 6=64E65 E@ E96 w@FD6 =2DE J62C] !C6G:@FD=J[ 96 H2D 2 7C6BF6?E AC6D6?46 :? 2?5 2C@F?5 E96 r2A:E@= 2D 2 AC@E6DE6C 2?5 @C82?:K6C] x? a_`h[ 96 H2D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E6??6DD62?]4@>^DE@CJ^?6HD^A@=:E:4D^a_`h^_b^_`^E6??6DD66\?2E92?\3657@C5\7@CC6DE\3FDE\;FDE:?\;@?6D\32??65\42A:E@=\27E6C\42D252\:?4:56?E^b_af_dg__a^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmkDEC@?8m32??65 7C@> E96 r2A:E@=k^DEC@?8mk^2m 27E6C 96 H2D 244FD65 @7 E9C@H:?8 2 4FA 2E E96?\w@FD6 $A62<6C v=6? r2D252 5FC:?8 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?2D9G:==6A@DE]4@>^FAC@2C\:?\E96\9@FD6\@G6C\3JC5\7@CC6DE^2CE:4=6047b637c_\a_5b\d27h\2fc7\df3g7a3h7227]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmkDEC@?8m492@E:4 AC@E6DEk^DEC@?8mk^2m @G6C 2 3FDE 9@?@C:?8 r@?7656C2E6 86?6C2= 2?5 zzz 7@F?56C }2E92? q657@C5 u@CC6DE] y@?6D D2:5 96 7:=65 2 A@=:46 C6A@CE 27E6C 2? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^EH:EE6C]4@>^3C@E96C;@?6D0^DE2EFD^`ecb_ebdbfaccah`_fenDla_Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmkDEC@?8m2=E6C42E:@? H:E9 #6A] yFDE:? {2776CEJk^DEC@?8mk^2m W#\z?@IG:==6X 7@==@H:?8 E96 w@FD6 62C=:6C E9:D H66< 28C66:?8 E@ 4@?D:56C E96 6IAF=D:@? 677@CED]k^Am
kAmy@9?D@? H2D C6AC6D6?E65 3J 7@C>6C #6AD] y@9? |2C< (:?5=6 2?5 |:<6 $E6H2CE]k^Am
Rep. Gloria Johnson (left) and Justin Jones after the expulsion votes
Photo: Hamilton Matt Masters
kAm“!=62D6 4@>6 FA 2?5 7246 E96 A6@A=6 2?5 6IA=2:? H9J J@F A6CA6EC2E65 7C2F5 @? E9:D H@>2? 2?5 E96 A6@A=6 @7 E96 DE2E6 @7 %6??6DD66[” D2:5 (:?5=6[ 2C8F:?8 E92E E96 6IAF=D:@? C6D@=FE:@? >256 72=D6 4=2:>D 23@FE y@9?D@? J6==:?8 2?5 D=2>>:?8 E96 A@5:F> =2DE H66<] %96 C6D@=FE:@? 2=D@ D2:5 D96 H2D 5:DA=2J:?8 2 D:8?[ H9:49 (:?5=6 D2:5 H2D F?ECF6] sFC:?8 BF6DE:@?:?8[ y@9?D@? 56?:65 D=2>>:?8 @? E96 A@5:F>[ J6==:?8 @C FD:?8 2 3F==9@C? 2D 56E2:=65 :? E96 C6D@=FE:@?]k^Am
kAm“%96 2FE9@C @7 E9:D 5@4F>6?E H2?ED E@ E2<6 72=D69@@5D 2?5 DF3G6CE E96 H:== @7 f_[___ G@E6CD[” (:?5=6 D2:5]k^Am
kAmp5565 $E6H2CEi “%9:D :D E96 F=E:>2E6 52?86C@FD AC64656?E[ 2?5 :E AFED 6G6CJ >6>36C’D D62E 2E C:D<]”k^Am
kAmy@9?D@? H2D 7:CDE 6=64E65 E@ E96 w@FD6 :? a_`a 3FE =@DE C66=64E:@? 27E6C 2 D:?8=6 E6C>] $96 C6EFC?65 E@ E96 =68:D=2EFC6 27E6C H:??:?8 2?@E96C 3:5 :? a_`g]k^Am
kAmy@9?D@? H2D @?6 @7 E96 >2:? =2H>2<6CD AFD9:?8 7@C 6IAF=D:@? @7 7@C>6C #6A] s2G:5 qJC5[ 2 #6AF3=:42? H9@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?2D9G:==6D46?6]4@>^?6HD^A:E9:?E96H:?5^52G:5\3JC5\H:==\CF?\7@C\C6\6=64E:@?\27E6C\2==^2CE:4=607fe46chc\h27a\dg`a\35_c\dfb6`ega4e24]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmkDEC@?8m2A@=@8:K65 :? 2 C64@C565 4@?G6CD2E:@?k^DEC@?8mk^2m 7@C D6IF2==J 23FD:?8 2 >:?@C DEF56?E H96? 96 H2D 2 32D<6E32== 4@249] #6AF3=:42?D <:==65 E92E 6IAF=D:@? 677@CE] r2D252 H2D 7@C465 E@ DE6A 5@H? 2D DA62<6C 7@==@H:?8 2 D42?52= :?G@=G:?8 C24J E6IED D6?E 36EH66? 9:> 2?5 9:D 49:67 @7 DE277 r256 r@E9C6?j k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?2D9G:==6D46?6]4@>^?6HD^A:E9:?E96H:?5^8=6?\42D252\2?5\4256\4@E9C6?\:?5:4E65\2CC6DE65^2CE:4=606f2__675\25bb\d5aa\h53a\f`ga_ab3d22b]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmkDEC@?8m3@E9 H6C6 =2E6C 2CC6DE65 @? 7C2F5 492C86Dk^DEC@?8mk^2m] #6AF3=:42?D 5:5 ?@E AFD9 E@ C6>@G6 r2D252 7C@> E96 =68:D=2EFC6]k^Am
kAm$6G6C2= #6AF3=:42?D ;@:?65 H:E9 s6>@4C2ED E@ 56?J E96 C6D@=FE:@? 2 EH@\E9:C5D >2;@C:EJ 3J 2 D:?8=6 G@E6]k^Am
kAm“x >2J 92G6 3C@<6? 2 CF=6[ 3FE E96 H@C5D :? E9:D 5@4F>6?E 2C6 72=D6[ 2?5 x 5:5 H92E x H2D 4@>A6==65 E@ 5@ 32D65 @? DA62<:?8 7@C E96 G@E6CD :? >J 5:DEC:4E H9@ H6C6 3688:?8 >6 E@ 3C:?8 E9:D 7@CH2C5[” y@9?D@? D2:5]k^Am
kAm!62CD@? H2D 2AA@:?E65 62C=:6C E9:D J62C E@ 7:== E96 G242?4J =67E 3J E96 562E9 @7 =@?8E:>6 #6A] q2C32C2 r@@A6C] w6 H@? 2 4@>A6E:E:G6 s6>@4C2E:4 AC:>2CJ :? 2 DA64:2= 6=64E:@? 7@C E96 D62E]k^Am
kAm“(6 4@>>:EE65 ?@ 4C:>6[” !62CD@? D2:5] “(6 5:5 ?@E9:?8 3FE 4@>6 E@ E9:D 7=@@C E@ D2J H6 ?665 E@ =:DE6? E@ E96 G@:46D @7 @FC 4@?DE:EF6?ED H9@ 2C6 492?E:?8 E@ 6?5 8F? G:@=6?46]”k^Am
kAm!62CD@? 2C8F65 E92E 96 H2D ?6G6C :?7@C>65 23@FE E96 CF=6D @7 E96 w@FD6[ H9:49 H6C6 G@E65 @? 367@C6 96 42>6 E@ E96 r2A:E@=] w6 2=D@ D2:5 E92E %9FCD52J’D 962C:?8D H6C6 “E96 7:CDE 52J E92E x’G6 D66? D@>6E9:?8 E92E :D 6G6? 2 D6>3=2?46 @7 56>@4C24J[ 6G6? @? 2 52J H96? E9:D 56>@4C24J :D 36:?8 492==6?865]”k^Am
kAmpD<65 H9J D96 DFCG:G65 E96 G@E6 3FE y@?6D 2?5 !62CD@? 5:5 ?@E[ y@9?D@? D2:5[ Q:E >:89E 92G6 E@ 5@ H:E9 E96 4@=@C @7 @FC D<:?]Qk^Am
