As Tennessee Republicans move forward with the attempted expulsion of three state representatives who led last Thursday’s riot at the State Capitol, questions linger about what will happen if those representatives are indeed expelled.
State Representatives Justin Jones (D-Nashville), Justin Pearson (D-Memphis), and Gloria Johnson (D-Knoxville) helped lead the riot, which was thwarted by the Tennessee State Troopers who guard the state capitol just before rioters could push their way out of the Capitol gallery and into the Tennessee House chamber, where state lawmakers have their offices.
The Tennessee Star reported that 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 (pictured above, right), Johnson (pictured above, middle), and Pearson (pictured above, left).
All those resolutions passed, leading to a Thursday vote to expel the Tennessee Democrats.
The lawmakers cited Article II, Section 12 of the Tennessee Constitution, claiming that the Democrat lawmakers “did knowingly and intentionally bring disorder and dishonor to the House of Representatives through their individual and collective actions” during the riot.
According to Knox News, if any of the Democrat lawmakers are expelled, they will be replaced with interim House Representatives.
In the case of Johnson, who represents parts of Knox County, the county commission would appoint her interim replacement.
“The representative would likely be replaced by an interim member selected by the district’s county legislative body, Knox County Elections Administrator Chris Davis said. In Johnson’s case, that’s the Knox County Commission (which also is made up of a Republican supermajority),” the report says.
The report also notes that even if expelled, the lawmakers would be able to run for re-election during the next election cycle.
“The Tennessee attorney general ruled so in a 1981 opinion about expelled members with felony convictions,” according to the report. “Breaking House rules is not illegal, and does not prevent a member who was expelled from being appointed to the seat or winning election to it again.”
According to Knox News, the lawmakers, if re-elected, would not be able to face expulsion again for their roles in the riot.
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Pete D’Abrosca is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Pete on Twitter.
Photo “Justin Jones” by Justin Jones. Photo “Justin Pearson” by Justin Pearson. Photo “Gloria Johnson” by Gloria Johnson. Background Photo “Tennesse House Chamber” by Ichabod. CC BY-SA 3.0.
