from the state Senate has sued the state of Tennessee and several politicians, claiming that he was unconstitutionally removed from office.left three students and three teachers dead. Jones and Rep. Justin Pearson, who are Black, were expelled, while Rep. Gloria Johnson, who is White, narrowly avoided removal. The two lawmakers were later reinstated to office and won special elections to retain control of their seats.
State Rep. Justin Jones speaks at the Tennessee House of Representatives ahead of votes on whether to expel him and two other Democratic members for their roles in a gun control demonstration.The lawsuit names the State of Tennessee, Tennessee House of Representatives Speaker Cameron Sexton, Chief Clerk Tammy Letzler, Chief Sergeant-at-Arms Bobby Trotter and Assistant Chief Clerk and Parliamentarian Daniel Hicks as plaintiffs.
Jones also said that typical rules were suspended to allow for"trial-like conditions" and let a Republican representative to"play a deceptive video" of Jones, Pearson, and Johnson's protest in April, without having given prior notice of the video to the House's Democratic minority. The video showed the events of the protest in a"slanted" light, the lawsuit claimed.
Jones said that being"forced" to run again in the special election for his seat forced his campaign to spend"over $70,000 ... solely as a result of the unconstitutional and illegal expulsion." Jones won his special election by a wide margin, defeatingspecial session meant to consider legislation