Image Credit: Roane for Liberty & NewsChannel5
The Tennessee Conservative Staff –
In response to Tennessee Senator Ken Yager’s drunken escapades in Georgia that resulted in his arrest for DUI, hit-and-run, and failure to stop at a stop sign, constituents from his own district have launched a petition calling for his removal from office.
Roane for Liberty, a conservative group based in one of the counties that Yager represents states that their mission is “to hold accountable, to monitor, influence and help direct the elected members of our governing bodies and institutions of Roane County, the State of Tennessee, and the Federal government, so they will adhere to the laws of God, the Constitution of this State, and our Country.”
Senator Yager, a Republican from Kingston who represents Tennessee’s Senate District 12 that covers Campbell, Clay, Fentress, Macon, Morgan, Overton, Pickett, Roane and Scott Counties, was arrested on December 3rd in Georgia when he was located by officers who were looking for his vehicle that had been involved in a hit-and-run on Jekyll Island.
Officers spotted Yager’s Ford Edge, displaying his state-issued legislative plates, in the parking lot of Jekyll Market where Yager was already being treated by emergency medical services as he had tripped and fallen, according to police.
He submitted to a breathalyzer test, but refused a blood test, and video of Yager’s field sobriety test shows him swaying, stumbling, and unable to walk in a straight heel-to-toe line as directed by officers.
Yager issued this statement regarding his arrest, “An unfortunate incident happened last night. On the advice of my attorney, I cannot discuss the particulars at this time. I am and will continue to cooperate fully with authorities to bring this incident to an appropriate conclusion.”
He has not issued any new comments about the arrest on the advice of legal counsel.
Yager is under additional scrutiny as the vehicle used in the hit-and-run is reportedly leased from his campaign account.
According to financial disclosures, Yager has spent almost $23,000 on the vehicle’s lease, insurance, maintenance, washes, and registration fees since November of 2022. $16, 615 of that amount is the lease with Jerry Duncan Ford in Harriman.
Tennessee’s GOP leadership has been largely silent on the issue with Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally, who serves as the Tennessee Senate Speaker, declining to answer questions about whether Yager should resign his senate seat or step down from his leadership position, stating only, “My thoughts and prayers are with he and his family.”
Senate Speaker Pro Tempore Ferrell Haile, another well-known RINO, also declined to comment.
Per Senate ethics rules, if Yager is indicted for his Georgia crimes, he is required to step down as caucus chair or appeal to the Ethics Committee for a hearing to decide if he may maintain a leadership role during the course of the indictment.
Yager has given no public indication that he intends to step down, nor has GOP leadership indicated they intent to hold him accountable for his actions.
In response, a group of his conservative constituents are gathering signatures for a petition calling for his removal from office.
The petition states:
“On December 3, 2024, Senator Ken Yager, representing Tennessee’s 12th Senate District, was arrested by Georgia police on charges of DUI, hit and run, and failing to stop at a stop sign. His actions are a disgrace to his office, unbecoming of an elected legislator, and demonstrate his unfitness to serve as a senator. Please consider signing the petition to call for Senator Ken Yager’s removal from office.”
According to Roane for Liberty, the petition received 125 signatures within the first few hours of being posted and the numbers continue to increase.
A link to the petition can be found HERE.
2 Responses
Sad, things happen to all of us, however, most of us do not have the ‘cover’ of a state senate seat. As such, we would face the ‘fullest extent of the law’ under these circumstances. Yet, Yager and his attorney know he will face no such justice, as long as he refuses to resign. But, Yager is fooling himself, along with the voters of District 12, if he thinks he can pay the fines, go to rehab and ‘overcome’ these ‘set backs’. An honorable man would resign under such charges and face the consequences as an ordinary citizen in order to recover his dignity and self worth. However, like way to many elected officials and their attorneys, they know as long as they are ‘serving’ the public as an elected official, they’ll have the upper hand in negotiating a favorable outcome in a court of law, using the COVER of political power. I wonder if or when, the constituents that have not signed this petition, will recognize that they and their families have NO SUCH cover! We all know that very few, if any, of other senators will come out with the real “truth” for their “Friend from the 12th District”, but what about the voters of Tennessee, on whom Yager has brought more shame?
If he was honorable he’d voluntarily step down.
If Tennessee’s GOP leadership were honorable folk, they’d encourage him to step down and state that his actions were unacceptable.