Tennessee GOP members move to oust 3 Dems after gun protest

Republicans Bud Halsey, Gino Bruso, and Andrew Farmer introduced the resolution. They succeeded on Monday in demanding that the House expedite the process and vote on the resolution on Thursday.

Despite support from an overwhelming Republican majority, their demands sparked outrage among supporters watching in the gallery. led to demand their dismissal by officials. Several members of Congress also clashed in the House during the riot.

Jones later accused another member of stealing his phone and “trying to instigate a riot with fellow members.”

Sexton deemed Jones out of order and cut Jones’ microphone.

Hundreds of protesters filled the Capitol last week and called on the Republican-led state legislature to pass gun control measures after a school shooting in Nashville killed six. As chants echoed throughout the Capitol, Jones, Johnson, and Pearson approached the front of the House floor with loudspeakers.

As the three shared loudspeakers and cheered the crowd, Republican Sexton quickly called for a break. He later vowed that the three would face consequences. General Affairs Karen Camper described their actions as “good trouble,” referring to the late Rep. John Lewis’ mentoring principal.

By Monday, Sexton confirmed that three lawmakers had been stripped of their commission duties, and said more punishments could follow. A few hours later, House Republican caucus speaker Jeremy Faison called Jones a “former president” at an evening meeting.

Both Pearson and Jones are freshmen. Johnson has been in the House of Representatives since 2019. All three are highly critical of the Republican majority. Jones threw a glass of liquid at former Speaker of the House Glenn Cassada and other members of Congress during a protest against a bust of Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest inside the Tennessee State Capitol. Temporarily exiled from the Tennessee State Capitol in 2019.

Expelling a legislator is unusual behavior inside the Tennessee State Capitol. He is the only two other members of Congress to be expelled from Congress since the Civil War.