A group of Senate Democrats — including Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) — sent a letter to the Justice Department on Wednesday demanding they investigate the recent expulsions of two Black Democratic Tennessee legislators, Reps. Justin Jones and Justin Pearson, who protested gun violence on the floor of their state House.
I am fully on board with the notion that expelling these members for exercising their right to free speech violates the Constitution, and am at least somewhat on board with the notion that the expulsion violates federal civil rights laws (which, everyone should be reminded, are the supreme law of the country, even over whatever state constitutional issues may govern the expulsion of state House members).
BUT . . .
Arizona just yesterday expelled a crazy representative for calling a witness to spout a bunch of crazy bullshit about election conspiracy nonsense. Crazypants election conspiracy nonsense is protected free speech. I can draw a principled First Amendment distinction between the two cases, but I’d really not rather have to do so.
The GOP is certainly keeping the DOJ busy these days.
Give the GOP fascists an inch, and they’ll try to take a mile. It’s a good idea to keep them honest. If the GOP has done nothing against the law, they have nothing to worry about. This sort of oversight also discourages copycat problems which may emerge if TN doesn’t have to explain themselves. It is good to get ahead of it. States that may be tempted to try to pull sh!t might think twice. Especially if they have other issues to hide.
This is not a get some fancy lawyers together kind of issue.
This is an Article 4, Section 4 issue that should be responded to with fixed bayonets.
The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic Violence.
If Tennessee is a territory rather than a state when all is said and done, we should be able to live with that.
Apparently the Arizona GOP canned one of its own because she, that’s right a woman, brought in a witness accusing both Ds and Rs of taking bribes from Mexican drug cartels. Not sure if she was popped because of the crazy witness or because she invaded craziness normally reserved to the boys club.
ETA. Oops, forgot, in Arizona Kari Lake sets the example. Must be the crazy witness.
Meanwhile, since Mitch has really been MIA since his fall…
ETA Mitch returns to the Senate next week. Cronyn, Thune and others wanting the top job will just have to wait a little longer.
The witness spouted said bullshit in an official session on the record with zero evidence to back up charges of bribery of the governor and the malicious oversight of the LDS, who somehow runs the state government because reasons.
AZ rep was expelled for inviting the nonsense into official state business, and lying to the investigators that she had no idea this crazy person was going to say crazy things. “Erosion of public trust of the institution”
AZ Rep was also expelled in a bi-partisan vote - 2/3 majority. Even her fellow republicans have seen enough.
TRIAL BY STONE!!!
Spouting bullshit on the record with zero evidence to back it up is protected by the First Amendment. That wouldn’t be so if it were perjury, but I think we both know that such people actually believe the bullshit to be true.
True, but the expulsion was for providing the forum for the bullshit. The rep did not speak, but provided the witness official time to speak as an “expert”, which made the committee look like a bunch of morons.
I think more importantly, the freshman Rep also lied to the committee about knowing the witness was going to spout crazy when they investigated later. Don’t lie to investigators if you’re the new guy on the block.
It was also a 2/3 vote in a Republican controlled house. TN was nakedly partisan and a razor thin majority vote. I’m ok with this. Republicans police themselves so infrequenty it seems hard to believe it happened.
Yep, it’s like they’re using a tactic like a DOS-attack to keep the weapons of the DOJ from working. It’s just possible GYM Jordon is getting his wish.
Which is also free speech.
The lying would be a solid basis to kick her out. But the ethics complaint that led to her ouster was butthurt because the witness “impugned leadership,” including judges, the governor, the secretary of state, the speaker of the house, and the LDS church. That’s core free speech!
Senate Democrats need to ask the DOJ to probe the Supreme Court sleaze, as well.
lol this is dumb
are they really busy tho
It’s not a first amendment issue, but the TN House voted three times on expulsion of House members. They expelled the two black guys, while letting the white woman keep her seat. Yeah, there may be a civil rights issue here.
sent a letter to the Justice Department on Wednesday demanding they investigate the recent expulsions of two Black Democratic Tennessee legislators
While they’re at it, they could have a look-see at the TN House Speaker’s per diems over the past four years. $66k in extra commuting expenses when you actually live in Nashville ain’t chump change.
lol ur constitutional scholar
ok fascist apologist