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Haslam Urges Durham To Resign, Won't Call Special Session

Haslam Urges Durham To Resign
Posted at 12:01 PM, Jul 26, 2016
and last updated 2016-07-26 17:15:10-04

Republican Gov. Bill Haslam is renewing his call for state Rep. Jeremy Durham to resign, but says he won't speed up the process for convening a special legislative session to oust him.

Haslam told reporters after a grant announcement in Camden on Tuesday that he will leave it to lawmakers to decide on calling the special session.

It takes two-thirds of lawmakers in both chambers to call a special session. Haslam noted that two-thirds is also the threshold for ousting a member.

Durham earlier this month suspended his reelection campaign but did not resign after an investigation by the state attorney general included allegations that he sexually harassed several women at the Legislature. Durham has denied most of the allegations.

Durham will qualify for a state pension even if he is ousted.