Counsel for ousted Tennessee Representatives Justin Jones and Justin Pearson Monday sent a letter directing Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton to restore their rights if they are reinstated.
In the letter, counsel for both individuals explained the severity of these events:
The world is watching Tennessee. Any partisan retributive action, such as the discriminatory treatment of elected officials, or threats or actions to withhold funding for government programs, would constitute further unconstitutional action that would require redress.
Counsel went on to request that, if reinstated, Jones and Pearson immediately receive their healthcare benefits, parking privileges and access to the State Capitol that terminated upon their dismissal last week. Counsel for Jones includes Eric Holder Jr., C. William Phillips and R. Gregory Rubio. Counsel for Pearson includes Scott Crosby, Jef Feibelman and Sarah Stuart.
Following Jones’ removal on April 6, he shared thanks to the thousands of people mobilizing to fight the “attack on democracy” when the legislature removed him from office. Pearson also voiced his thoughts, calling on people to continue to protest for policies like gun-reform even in times of persecution.
Since then, the Nashville Metropolitan Council unanimously voted to reinstate Jones of the state’s fifty-second district to the Tennessee legislature. The Shelby County Election Commission will vote soon on whether to reinstate Pearson to the eighty-sixth district seat.
This letter comes two weeks after three members of the Tennessee legislator started protests for gun reform following a Nashville school shooting that left six people dead. Sexton previously said of the protests, “To some on the other side of the aisle – this is ‘good trouble.’ These actions are a blatant disregard for house rules.”
