So....fun times in Tenn.---did I read that right? One Republican member accused of pissing on another's chair?:
One of two Tennessee Democrats who were expelled from the state House by Republican colleagues over gun protests used his final floor remarks to call out other members of the chamber who went unpunished for more extreme conduct - including an “admitted child molester.”
Before the expulsion vote took place, Mr Jones approached the podium to give his last speech as the state representative for District 52, using his time to point out several other lawmakers with questionable histories.
“Let’s talk about expulsion,” Mr Jones, who was elected last November, said calmly. “For years, one of your colleagues, who was an admitted child molester, sat in this chamber- no expulsion.”
Mr Byrd denied these allegations, though one of his accusers recorded him apologising to her and saying, “I’ve lived with that and you don’t know how hard it has been for me.”
Despite several calls for Mr Byrd to retire, including one from Governor Bill Lee, Mr Byrd sought re-election and won in 2020. Mr Byrd only left the Tenneesse House after being severely ill from Covid-19.
Mr Jones continued his speech by calling one member out for alleged domestic violence, another for being under federal investigation, and another for peeing in another member’s chair.
One of two Tennessee Democrats who were expelled from the state House by Republican colleagues over gun protests used his final floor remarks to call out other members of the chamber who went unpunished for more extreme conduct - including an “admitted child molester.”
Before the expulsion vote took place, Mr Jones approached the podium to give his last speech as the state representative for District 52, using his time to point out several other lawmakers with questionable histories.
“Let’s talk about expulsion,” Mr Jones, who was elected last November, said calmly. “For years, one of your colleagues, who was an admitted child molester, sat in this chamber- no expulsion.”
Mr Jones was referring to former state representative David Byrd who was accused of sexually abusing three underage girls while he was a high school basketball coach.
Mr Byrd denied these allegations, though one of his accusers recorded him apologising to her and saying, “I’ve lived with that and you don’t know how hard it has been for me.”
Despite several calls for Mr Byrd to retire, including one from Governor Bill Lee, Mr Byrd sought re-election and won in 2020. Mr Byrd only left the Tenneesse House after being severely ill from Covid-19.
Mr Jones continued his speech by calling one member out for alleged domestic violence, another for being under federal investigation, and another for peeing in another member’s chair.
