Tennessee state Rep. Justin Jones, who was expelled from the state House last week alongside former Rep. Justin Pearson of Memphis, was reinstated to his seat Monday on an interim basis.
Metro Council rules ordinarily require members to wait four weeks before filling vacancies in the state legislature. It would have only taken two dissenting members to prevent a suspension of the rules. Had that happened, Tennessee's legislative session may have been adjourned by the time Jones was reseated.
"I know that community members called and emailed us, and I think they did a great job because we didn't have a single objection to suspension of the rules today," said Council Member Sandra Sepulveda. Ahead of the meeting, at least 30 councilmembers released statements declaring their intent to vote Jones back into the District 52 seat. He needed a simple majority of the 40-member council to reclaim the seat.
Meanwhile, in Shelby County, commissioners will meet Wednesday to discuss reappointing fellow ousted Rep. Justin Pearson, also a Democrat.have called the move racist and hypocritical. Johnson, who escaped expulsion, is the only one among the three who is white.
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