The feud between Tennessee Republicans and Democratic Rep. Justin Jones continues, nearly a year after a failed attempt to expel him from the state House of Representatives. Last year, Jones, along with two other Democrats, faced expulsion after leading a gun-control protest following a school shooting in Nashville.
Although Jones and another representative were briefly expelled, they were later reinstated through interim appointments and won special elections in August.
The current legislative session in Tennessee has seen renewed efforts by some Republican lawmakers to prevent a similar situation.
Rep. Justin Jones (Credits: People)
Proposed legislation includes a bill to prohibit expelled legislators from holding their seat for four years and another to prevent county legislative bodies from nominating expelled members to fill their former seats.
Jones, who has remained a vocal figure, filed a lawsuit against House Speaker Cameron Sexton last October, challenging the expulsion vote and changes to rules during a special session.
The lawsuit alleges violations of Jones’ First and Fourteenth Amendment rights. The legal battle is ongoing, with a motion to dismiss filed by Sexton and co-defendants in December.
The recent session also saw controversy when Jones refused to lead the House in the Pledge of Allegiance, leading to calls for his resignation by the chair of the House Republican Caucus.
The ongoing disputes highlight the lasting impact of last year’s expulsion attempt, underscoring the challenges in reconciling the contentious issue within the Tennessee legislature.
