Rep. Justin Jones sues House Speaker Cameron Sexton in federal court

Tennessee Rep. Justin Jones, D-Nashville, sued the state and House Speaker Cameron Sexton on Tuesday, alleging the House Republican efforts to expel Jones last spring and enact new rules to limit debate during the August special session were unconstitutional and illegal.

House Republicans expelled Jones and his freshman colleague Rep. Justin Pearson, D-Memphis, in April after the two broke House rules and mounted brief gun reform chants on the chamber floor. The pair were frustrated with the lack of legislative action in the wake of the Covenant School shooting just days before, in which six people were killed.

Jones was quickly reappointed to his seat by the Nashville Metro council, and he later easily won reelection.

The Nashville Democrat now argues the expulsion "robbed" him of committee appointments and washed out his legislative tenure of a few months, which could affect his standing for benefits in the Tennessee retirement system. Jones also argues he was forced to spend $70,000 and resources to mount a second election campaign after his expulsion.

https://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/politics/2023/10/03/tennessee-rep-justin-jones-sues-house-speaker-cameron-sexton-federal-court-expulsion-vote-silence/71043911007/