Al Sharpton Slams Tennessee House GOP’s Expulsion of 2 Democrats: ‘Blatant Racism Will Backfire on Them’ (Video)
thewrap.comreport by the state attorney general, the Tennessee House of Representatives has only used its power to expel three times in its 157-year history: six members were expelled in 1866 “for the contempt of the authority of this House,” a member was expelled in 1980 for seeking a bribe in exchange for tanking a piece of legislation, and a representative was expelled in 2016 amid state and federal investigations of sexual misconduct.
Under the Tennessee Constitution, lawmakers cannot be expelled for the same offense twice.County commissions in each of the expelled lawmakers’ districts will choose replacements to serve until a special election can be held, according to the Associated Press.
The commissions could choose Jones and Pearson, letting them return to the Capitol. The expelled lawmakers also would be eligible to run in the special elections to fill the seats.
At a rally following their expulsion, Pearson and Jones said they would continue to advocate for gun control measures and urged protestors to return to the Capitol on Monday.“They thought they won today, but they don’t realize what they started,” Jones said. “They started a movement they can’t stop.”Watch the “Morning Joe” clip with Sharpton in the video above..
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