Tennessee House Republicans expel Nashville Democratic Rep. Justin Jones

The Tennessee House of Representatives voted along party lines to expel Democratic Rep. Justin Jones from its body for leading a floor protest over gun violence one week ago.

The expulsion vote against Jones was 72-25. It needed 66 votes it pass.

Expulsion votes against Gloria Johnson of Knoxville and Justin Pearson of Memphis from Tennessee House are ongoing.

The trio is accused of violating the House rules of decorum when they took over the speaking podium to lead chants with a crowd protesting the lack of action by lawmakers on gun violence after six were killed — including three children — in a mass shooting at a religious school in Nashville.

Rep. Charlie Baum, R-Murfressboro, was the only Republican to vote against Jones’ expulsion. Rep. Sam Whitson, R-Franklin, was present but did not vote on the expulsion resolution.

The expulsion hearing for Jones went on for nearly two hours.

Tennessee Lookout is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Tennessee Lookout maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Holly McCall for questions: info@tennesseelookout.com. Follow Tennessee Lookout on Facebook and Twitter.

Related articles

Content Creator Pam Bondi Happily Does Trump’s Dirty Political Work

LAST CHANCE! A small number of tickets are still available for tomorrow night’s event in D.C. I’ll be talking about...

Melania BLOWS IT as EPSTEIN Demand Comes Back to HAUNT HER

Is Melania suddenly embarrassed that she demanded...

Trump will save Kristi Noem — but shift her away from immigration: insiders



Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is expected to keep her job after meeting at the White House with President Donald Trump to discuss her handling of the immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota that has led to the shooting deaths of two Americans.

The president is reportedly unhappy with Noem's response to the fatal shooting Saturday of 37-year-old nurse Alex Pretti by federal agents, and sources told CBS News that the DHS secretary was hit with questions about her leadership.

CBS reported that sources said Noem is not likely to be fired, but "her focus is expected to shift from immigration enforcement operations in the interior of the country to securing the southern border and other priorities."

"Noem and top aide Corey Lewandowski had elevated Border Patrol official Gregory Bovino and tasked him with overseeing highly publicized and controversial immigration raids in cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, Charlotte, New Orleans and, most recently, Minneapolis," CBS News reported.

"The move — intended to bolster President Trump's mass deportation campaign — marked a significant change in tactics because immigration matters in the country's interior have historically been handled by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, not Border Patrol."

Bovino was given a new title of "commander" and reported directly to Noem, which set off internal conflict over the aggressive campaign in the Minneapolis area. After the shootings of two 37-year-olds – Renee Good and Alex Pretti – this month, the administration removed him from the post and sent him back to California. He's expected to retire.

"One official said serious threats against Bovino in Minnesota, including death threats, factored into the administration's decision to pull him from the operation there," CBS News reported.

Trump dispatched his border czar Tom Homan, who reportedly has a chilly relationship with Noem, to lead the Minnesota operation, and government sources told CBS News they were not happy about remarks the DHS secretary and other top officials have made about Pretti's killing.

"When we gaslight and contradict what the public can plainly see with their own eyes, we lose all credibility and it's going to damage our reputation for generations," said one DHS official.