As reported first by the Nashville Post, after more than an hour debating about whether to rid the Tennessee General Assembly of Rep. Jeremy Durham (R-Franklin), members of the Tennessee General Assembly voted overwhelming to expel him.
Just two legislators — Rep. Terri Lynn Weaver (R-Lancaster) and Rep. Courtney Rogers (R-Goodlettsville) — voted against expelling Durham, and 70 voted yes on the action. More than 20 legislators abstained from voting or were not present.
Durham, accused in an Attorney General's report of sexually harassing at least 22 women, attempted to make a case against his expulsion by couching the body's vote as a unfair trial, claiming he did not get a chance to present evidence to defend himself.
From Cari Wade Gervin at the Post:
"Tuesday marks only the third time a legislator has been kicked out of Tennessee's statehouse. Previous expulsions happened in 1866 and 1980.
Durham's expulsion came after an hour and a half of intense and at times raucous debate, including questioning of the legislator about his alleged actions in the AG's report. At some point, Durham had enough and stormed out of the building, refusing to take questions from reporters.
House Speaker Beth Harwell said after the vote that the body made the right decision.
'I am very comfortable with that,' Harwell said.
Lynn added that due process concerns raised by other members who did not vote for the expulsion were not an issue."
