BELOW SUPERNAV drop zone ⇩

Chaotic Tennessee special session ends with pushing and shoving

MAIN AREA TOP drop zone ⇩

MAIN AREA TOP drop zone ⇩

maylen

https://digital-stage.newsnationnow.com/

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241114185800

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241115200405

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241118165728

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241118184948

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — The special session of the Tennessee General Assembly ended in chaos, including pushing and shoving between lawmakers and shouting from the public.

Republican lawmakers rammed through an adjournment of the House sine die before Rep. Justin Jones could officially call for a vote of no confidence of Speaker Cameron Sexton.

Shortly after the House was gaveled out, a situation between Rep. Justin Pearson and Sexton broke out before lawmakers swarmed both men to separate them.

  • End of TN Special Session
  • End of TN Special Session
  • End of TN Special Session
  • End of TN Special Session
  • End of TN Special Session
  • End of TN Special Session
  • Special Session ending
  • End of TN Special Session

After adjourning the session, Sexton left the podium, at which time Pearson approached him while holding a protest sign. Pearson appeared to be bumped by Sexton’s shoulder as the Speaker attempted to pass him, and Pearson was blocked from getting too close to the Speaker by Rep. Scott Cepicky (R—Culleoka), a former football and baseball player.

But things got more physical when Sexton turned toward Pearson and shouted at him, pointing his finger in the freshman lawmaker’s face. Both men were quickly separated, though, and House Majority Leader William Lamberth brought Pearson to a desk and appeared to try to talk him down.

The session has been repeatedly contentious between the parties, with Jones silenced by a procedural vote Monday afternoon and a walk-out of Democratic lawmakers following. Democrats have been frustrated the last week that no legislation on limiting guns in Tennessee has passed, while House and Senate Republicans have been engaged in a cold war of sorts on the kind of legislation each chamber passed during the special session.

After the scrum was dissolved, Jones took to the Speaker’s podium, banging the gavel while shouting “This House is out of order!” to the still-gathered galleries. Pearson, meanwhile, returned to the public areas to chant with protestors in the Capitol rotunda.

NewsNation affiliate WKRN has reached out to Tennessee Highway Patrol, Nashville District Attorney General Glenn Funk and Gov. Bill Lee’s office for comment and word on if any formal charges will be filed.

Mid-South

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed

Site Settings Survey

 

MAIN AREA MIDDLE drop zone ⇩

Trending on NewsNation

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241119133138

MAIN AREA BOTTOM drop zone ⇩

tt

KC Chiefs parade shooting: 1 dead, 21 shot including 9 kids | Morning in America

Witness of Chiefs parade shooting describes suspect | Banfield

Kansas City Chiefs parade shooting: Mom of 2 dead, over 20 shot | Banfield

WWE star Ashley Massaro 'threatened' by board to keep quiet about alleged rape: Friend | Banfield

Friend of WWE star: Ashley Massaro 'spent hours' sobbing after alleged rape | Banfield

Sunny

la

56°F Sunny Feels like 56°
Wind
1 mph NNW
Humidity
40%
Sunrise
Sunset

Tonight

A few passing clouds. Low 46F. Winds light and variable.
46°F A few passing clouds. Low 46F. Winds light and variable.
Wind
2 mph N
Precip
9%
Sunset
Moon Phase
Waning Gibbous