Current:Home > BackLegislative staffer suspended after confrontation with ‘Tennessee Three’ member-LoTradeCoin
Legislative staffer suspended after confrontation with ‘Tennessee Three’ member
View Date:2024-12-23 16:30:21
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A Tennessee legislative staffer has been placed on leave after Democratic state Rep. Justin Jones says the staffer yelled at him in a hallway.
Jones, who shot to national fame as one of two Democrats expelled by their Republican colleagues last year for their participation in a protest calling for gun control, said that he filed a complaint against the staffer last month following an incident that took place outside his legislative office.
Jones added that the staffer confronted him in the hallway, began yelling at him and didn’t leave until another lawmaker intervened.
Jones said Tuesday that an independent investigation was conducted and it was determined that the staffer would be suspended until May.
“No matter who you are, no one should be talking to another person like that,” Jones said.
The staffer works for a fellow Democratic House member.
Connie Ridley, the Legislature’s administrative director, provided a letter to The Associated Press that was sent to the staffer on January 30. The letter said that the staffer would be placed on “disciplinary suspension” until May 3, with pay being withheld between February 1 through February 16.
“On the evening of January 9, 2024, you were in an inappropriate confrontation with a Member of the House of Representatives,” the letter states. “This incident occurred in the hallway adjacent to the Member’s office. Your conduct failed to maintain a satisfactory and harmonious working relationship with the Member and has caused disruption in daily operations for the Member and other individuals who were impacted by your actions.”
The letter also stated that the staffer must complete “emotional and behavioral health” counseling before returning to work.
Republicans ousted Jones and Rep. Justin Pearson, a fellow young Black Democrat, last April over their megaphone-amplified protest on the House floor calling for gun control just days after a Christian elementary school shooting killed six people. Republicans spared Democratic Rep. Gloria Johnson, who is white, from expulsion for her role in the demonstration by one vote.
Jones and Pearson were quickly reappointed back to their positions and then reelected in special elections.
veryGood! (83115)
Related
- California farmers enjoy pistachio boom, with much of it headed to China
- Breyers to pay $8.85 million to settle 'natural vanilla' ice cream dispute
- Dikembe Mutombo, NBA Center Legend, Dead at 58 After Cancer Battle
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Showstoppers
- Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan says next year will be his last in office; mum on his plans afterward
- Donald Trump suggests ‘one rough hour’ of policing will end theft
- How one preschool uses PAW Patrol to teach democracy
- 8 in 10 menopausal women experience hot flashes. Here's what causes them.
- Mariah Carey's Amazon Holiday Merch Is All I Want for Christmas—and It's Selling Out Fast!
- Breyers to pay $8.85 million to settle 'natural vanilla' ice cream dispute
Ranking
- Diamond Sports Group can emerge out of bankruptcy after having reorganization plan approved
- Judge strikes down Georgia ban on abortions, allowing them to resume beyond 6 weeks into pregnancy
- Maritime historians discover steam tug hidden in Lake Michigan since 1895
- Hurricane Helene among deadliest to hit US mainland; damage and death toll grow
- Homes of Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce burglarized, per reports
- 5 dead, including minor, after plane crashes near Wright Brothers memorial in North Carolina
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Showstoppers
- Man is sentenced to 35 years for shooting 2 Jewish men as they left Los Angeles synagogues
Recommendation
-
BITFII Introduce
-
Angelina Jolie was 'scared' to sing opera, trained 7 months for 'Maria'
-
‘SNL’ 50th season premiere gets more than 5M viewers, its best opener since 2020
-
Oregon DMV waited weeks to tell elections officials about voter registration error
-
The Daily Money: Markets react to Election 2024
-
Man sentenced to nearly 200 years after Indiana triple homicide led to serial killer rumors
-
Police in a cartel-dominated Mexican city are pulled off the streets after army takes their guns
-
How one preschool uses PAW Patrol to teach democracy