Threats Of Legal Action May Have Lead To Committee Assignments For Reps Jones & Pearson

Image Credit: capitol.tn.gov

The Tennessee Conservative [By Jason Vaughn] –

As lawmakers settled into their second day of Governor Lee’s called special session, two Democratic legislators who were previously expelled found themselves assigned to committee positions.

State Representatives Justin Jones of Nashville and Justin Pearson of Memphis were expelled earlier in the year for their role in a protest that disrupted proceedings on the House floor. Both were subsequently appointed by their local governments to serve temporarily until they were both eventually reelected by their districts earlier this month.

Because Pearson had been initially elected to his seat through a special election, he had never been assigned to any committees prior to his expulsion. Jones had been stripped of his assignments before he was expelled.

Before committee announcements were made by House Speaker Cameron Sexton during a morning floor session, Jones asked if expelled legislators would be returned to committee positions.

“I’m still seeking an answer as to whether members who were stripped of committee [assignments] will be restored to their rightful committees that you removed them from on April 3^rd,” Jones asked.

Sexton immediately interrupted, stating that Jones was “out of order” and silenced his microphone.

When Jones requested clarification as to why he was out of order, Sexton defaulted to the House clerk for an explanation. The Clerk stated that the House was discussing unfinished business and Jones’ question was outside of the scope of that discussion.

Jones then questioned why another representative was allowed to question the temperature of the building but he was not permitted to ask a question about proceedings of the special session.

“I can’t ask about committees [that] constituents sent me here to represent them on?” Jones asked further.

The Clerk went on to note that “the House Speaker makes rulings on what is in order and not in order.”

Former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, who now is in private practice and is representing Jones, previously sent a letter to Sexton to ensure that he planned to fully reinstate Jones to his seat, including on committees and subcommittees, before the start of the special session. Sexton had refused to return them to committee assignments during the time they were appointed back to their roles because they had not been “duly elected.”

Jones previously served on the Government Operations Committee and the Education Administration Committee.

Toward the end of Tuesday’s session, Sexton announced the chairpersons and members of each committee and subcommittee that he stressed was only for the Special Session.

Jones was designated a member of the Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee, the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, the Education Administration Committee, and the Transportation Committee.

Pearson was designated a member of the Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee, the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, the Elections & Campaign Finance Subcommittee, the Local Government Committee, and the Educational Instruction Committee.

About the Author: Jason Vaughn, Media Coordinator for The Tennessee Conservative  ~ Jason previously worked for a legacy publishing company based in Crossville, TN in a variety of roles through his career.  Most recently, he served as Deputy Director for their flagship publication. Prior, he was a freelance journalist writing articles that appeared in the Herald Citizen, the Crossville Chronicle and The Oracle among others.  He graduated from Tennessee Technological University with a Bachelor’s in English-Journalism, with minors in Broadcast Journalism and History.  Contact Jason at news@TennesseeConservativeNews.com