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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A Tennessee legislative staffer has been positioned on depart after Democratic state Rep. Justin Jones says the staffer yelled at him in a hallway.
Jones, who shot to nationwide fame as considered one of two Democrats expelled by their Republican colleagues final 12 months for his or her participation in a protest calling for gun management, stated that he filed a criticism in opposition to the staffer final month following an incident that befell exterior his legislative workplace.
Jones added that the staffer confronted him within the hallway, started yelling at him and did not depart till one other lawmaker intervened.
Jones stated Tuesday that an unbiased investigation was performed and it was decided that the staffer could be suspended till Might.
“Irrespective of who you might be, nobody ought to be speaking to a different particular person like that,” Jones stated.
The staffer works for a fellow Democratic Home member.
Connie Ridley, the Legislature’s administrative director, offered a letter to The Related Press that was despatched to the staffer on January 30. The letter stated that the staffer could be positioned on “disciplinary suspension” till Might 3, with pay being withheld between February 1 by February 16.
“On the night of January 9, 2024, you had been in an inappropriate confrontation with a Member of the Home of Representatives,” the letter states. “This incident occurred within the hallway adjoining to the Member’s workplace. Your conduct failed to take care of a passable and harmonious working relationship with the Member and has brought about disruption in every day operations for the Member and different people who had been impacted by your actions.”
The letter additionally acknowledged that the staffer should full “emotional and behavioral well being” counseling earlier than returning to work.
Republicans ousted Jones and Rep. Justin Pearson, a fellow younger Black Democrat, final April over their megaphone-amplified protest on the Home ground calling for gun management simply days after a Christian elementary school shooting killed six people. Republicans spared Democratic Rep. Gloria Johnson, who’s white, from expulsion for her position within the demonstration by one vote.
Jones and Pearson had been shortly reappointed again to their positions after which reelected in special elections.
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