Tennessee GOP representative explains why he voted to expel Democratic lawmakers

GOP House Rep. Bryan Richey explains his decision to expel Democratic lawmakers in Tennessee. He says the explosion wasn’t the right thing but says what the three Democratic representative did was “horrible.” #CNN #News

65 comments

  1. They were devastated but have chose to do NOT A DAMN THING about it? NOT EVEN ALLOW OTHER LAW MAKERS TO START A DIALOGUE?

    1. ​@Doc ProcBecause they helped SO MUCH when 21 people were being torn to ribbons in Uvalde!
      S/

    2. ​@Coltrane CobainIf you don’t think over 600 mass shootings in one year is NOT A CIVIL society, I cannot imagine what it would take for you to understand that is where we are, and we are not civil.

    3. @Kathy Leach I think background checks are enough.
      Do you think there could be solutions other than taking rights away from people who have not broken any laws?

  2. Jake asks a very good question isn’t fraud and sexual abuse worse than defending dead kids, just shows the disconnect in America.

    1. @Alex Wyatt Fascism? You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.

    2. @LotsOfFun how do you know? They have never raised a fist? Ever? And bullhorn is a major crime? Hardly egregious rule breaking. Not like um, firing on British troops in Concord. The country is bravely based on dissent, not gormless rule obeyers.

    3. @The Reaction Fascism is a far-right authoritarian political ideology, which characterizations include forcible suppression of the opposition and belief there is a natural social hierarchy. Also, your deflection is an interesting alternative to your rationalizing of this fascist action taken by the Republican Representatives of Tennessee; apparently, you can’t even bring yourself to feign insight and logic. Feeling low energy?

    4. @The Reaction They did in fact get quite close – but even had they not, breaking and entering with intent to intimidate or kill is entirely sufficient grounds for serious charges. Had someone broken into your house with intent to threaten or kill you would obviously be within your right to shoot them on the spot.

  3. I’m disappointed that Jake Tapper didn’t question Rep. Richey when he says (at 1:31): “Essentially he told me that he wanted to be kicked out.” We’d probably all like some specifics on this statement.

    1. @B BodziakSince they were expelled, the City Council in their jurisdiction is responsible for appointing a replacement to represent the district until a special election can be held (likely this fall). Both the councils (I believe the that they represent Nashville and Memphis areas) have already stated that they have the votes to reappoint the 2 Justins.

    2. ​@Jeezum Crowthey weren’t expelled from their position, they were expelled from the hearing. They are still representatives for their districts.

    3. @Jeezum Crow Thank you for responding. If they do vote to appoint him, will they still be required to hold a special election? I have a question maybe you can answer. When the House voted the 2nd and 3rd times to expel Gloria and Justin, did the 2/3 of the members threshold take into account that after each expulsion vote there was one fewer member from the total number of members?

  4. Actions speak louder than words. It’s clear he thinks just because he says it everyone believes his bs. I don’t believe a word he says.

    1. @R5-PARA It can’t be racism else Johnson would not have scraped through by one vote. They apparently were given opportunity to state their cases before the vote and she said she did nothing, no bull horn, just agreed with protestors. The other two though doubled down on their position. Some Republicans did not vote them out. I believe there are 22 or 23 Democrats, the rest Republicans.

    2. @Nathalie Sinovich agreed. It’s truly unfortunate. People are hustling race in this situation. I’ve been trying to track down why Cameron Sexton muted their microphones. Do you know why?

    3. @Nathalie Sinovich Wtf? Are _any_ conservatives and/or members of the GOP ever honest? Gloria Johnson defended her actions, admitted she knew she broke a rule, but asserted that it was necessary. She spoke about how the Republican Representatives prevented the three lawmakers from speaking earlier that day—the GOP ended their speaking time if they brought up gun violence and they even turned off their microphones. When Gloria Johnson went outside to speak to the protestors, the Speaker pulled Gloria Johnson’s ability to cast a vote during that session. Again—this all occurred before the protest.

      During her speech to the House before the expulsion vote, she criticized the GOP leadership for silencing voices and said that this chamber would be a lot different if people had previously and consistently been giving the respect and opportunity to speak—like they had now.

      Gloria Johnson stood by her actions and stood by Pearson and Jones. Her integrity is intact; I can’t say the same for yours

    1. @An Acc Fine, so if a legislator breaks a rule, he or she is expelled. I’m sure the press is doing some digging as we speak to find all the times a house rule was broken with no expulsions.

    2. Wish “you people” would find a new deck so they can play something other than the race card

    3. ​@An AccI mean a republican pissed on another republicans chair yet no one was ever removed because of it but let’s throw out two men for speaking up about dead children being slaughtered in yet another school shooting in this country. 🙄

    4. ​@joseph williamsso you don’t see any Racism when two black men were removed but the white lady got to stay? 🙄

  5. There is no way that brotha said anything like that to the GOP member!
    Great question for the GOP ⁉️

    1. Not a chance! And, if this liar was just trying to honor his colleagues wishes, why vote for the other Rep., especially, since he claims that he was opposed to expulsion?! #Shameful

    2. The three protesters did not vote for bills that would put _MORE_ guns in schools by adding armed guards that have proven ineffective in dealing with previous shootings. It is total spin, to put it politely, to say they refused to vote for bills that would make schools safer. Richey also claims Jones _WANTED_ to be expelled. Right. If my grandmother had wheels, she’d be a wagon.

      There is no end to the silliness of what the GQP is willing to spew with a straight face.

  6. The only thing that would motivate people like that is for it to happen to them personally. Otherwise to them it is always someone else’s problem and they do not want to be be bothered with it.

  7. “The two gentlemen were too animated compared to her!” Logic has no reasoning on full display.

    1. The word he was looking for was “Uppity” — The gentleman felt that his peers across the isle were too “uppity” compared to the coincidentally White lady beside them.

  8. Guarantee you that’s not the first time there has been a “disruption” on the House floor….. Ludicrous to expel for this when there’s ACTUAL criminal behaviour that goes unchecked from their own people.

    1. You are correct. In fact the two that got expelled had been warned previously to stop disrupting meetings and breaking decorum.

    2. ​@Ian Alan Mayne they should have pissed on the floor or punched a member in the face. NO EXPULSION!

  9. Tennessee did not expel the member who pissed on another member’s chair, nor did they expel the member who punched another member just holding a camera.

    1. ​​@Paul Lazarro “also.” What the Tennessee Three did… The Tennessee State Constitution states they can do per Article 2, Section 12. I believe that’s the correct siting of the State Constitiution… 💁🏼‍♀️

  10. Do they idiots really expect us to believe they broke decorum rules? It’s just sickening

  11. Suggestion: Interview the other people he is saying didn’t vote for what he wanted. Get their reasons for voting against his bills.

    1. I’m sure the families really appreciate that, and so much, that never again will another family have to go through the same drama and terror. By the incompetence of their representatives to legislate with, if only, a little common sense. Those who hide behind the Second Amendment.

  12. *Quote continued* : “All involved (Republicans who voted to expel) pleased their perspective constituencies, *but energy that should have been directed towards resolving gun violence. Maybe ensuring the Tennessee passes a red flag law* would now have been diverted into theatrics used for political self-interest. *It was all great theatre, but nothing changes* .”

  13. *Quotes* : _Who was more undemocratic in Tennessee_ ? – “The two black men were expelled, not the white woman. You have to believe that the Republicans first counted noses that within their caucus, they knew who vote which way. They anticipated, I’d imagine, that they fall short in expelling the white woman, while expelling the black men. *The resulting racist perception therefore entirely predictable, but they did it anyway* .”

  14. As a Tennessean and a resident of Nashville, the TN GOP really have no idea how badly they stepped in it. It’s hilarious how they are trying to downplay and rewrite the narrative. You will pay for this, TN GOP. Millennials and Gen Z will not forget this, and we will never vote for you.

    1. @Mark Warren Firearms were designed to injure and/or kill a living thing. I can’t speak to how a particular individual may use a particular firearm; someone could use the butt of a firearm to hammer in a nail—that doesn’t change the fact that firearms were designed to injure and/or kill.

      Time for you to answer the questions from my previous comment to you.

    2. What them 3 did was really bad but to have 3 kids shot to DEATH I think that was in ur state no big deal rite how far did u get in school

    3. @Alex Wyatt  I can have an automatic weapon, lots of people can and do, legally. You, or no one else can decide how I legally exercise my rights! Focus your thoughts and energy on the real criminals.

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