Two Black People Got Expelled From the Tennessee House But Spared White Lady

In an exceptional turn of events, a Black woman narrowly avoided expulsion from the Tennessee House, unlike her white colleagues who were voted out. While a vote to remove Gloria Johnson was passed by a margin of 65-30, it fell short of the required two-thirds majority for her expulsion. This action has only occurred twice since the Civil War.
The expulsion votes came a week after three Democratic lawmakers disrupted House sessions by walking onto the floor between bills without being recognized. They then led protesters in the gallery in chants for gun control, violating chamber rules.
During Monday’s session, several resolutions to expel Jones, Johnson and Pearson were introduced by the party leadership. They all passed along party lines, making it easier for them to get a final vote today.
Jones and Johnson fought against their expulsions, arguing that they knowingly violated the House’s rules. They also argued that they were motivated by their constituents’ outrage over the school shooting in Nashville.
Both of them brought in attorneys to argue their cases, with Johnson’s attorneys pointing out specific allegations that she didn’t commit. She also questioned the relevance and provenance of a seven-minute video that was shown ahead of Thursday’s vote.
After a long debate, House Republicans voted to expel Rep. Justin Jones, D-Nashville, 72-25. He will be out of office for a year and will have to face re-election next year. Jones’ expulsion comes as a shock to the state legislature, which has rarely expelled a member in its history.