Senate Democrats Ask DOJ to Probe Expulsion of Tennessee State Legislators

(L–R) State Reps. Gloria Johnson, Justin Jones, and Justin Pearson arrive at Fisk University in Nashville, Tenn., on April 7, 2023. Andrew Nelles/The Tennessean via AP

Congressional Democrats want the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate whether the Tennessee legislature violated federal law or the civil rights of two state representatives expelled for their part in March 30 protests in the Tennessee House.

Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Sens. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Christopher Murphy (D-Conn.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), and Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland on April 12, requesting an investigation into the April 7 expulsion of Tennessee State Representatives Justin Jones of Nashville and Justin Pearson of Memphis.