NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — House Speaker Glen Casada has asked embattled Rep. David Byrd to step down from his subcommittee chairman position.
The announcement was confirmed Thursday morning by Casada’s chief of staff. A spokesperson for Governor Bill Lee says the governor "agrees with Speaker Casada and the House leadership’s decision today in removing Rep. Byrd from his subcommittee chairmanship.”
Byrd, Chairman of the House Education Administration Subcommittee, faces sexual assault allegations from his time as a teacher and basketball coach at Wayne County High School decades ago. Byrd has never been charged with a crime.
I saw Representative Byrd outside speaker Casada’s office this morning.
— Kyle Horan (@KyleHoranNC5) March 28, 2019
He had a solemn look on his face and said he had no comment on the speaker asking him to step down as chairman of the education subcommittee. @NC5
Casada released the following statement, Thursday morning:
“Following discussions with members of the House and after careful consideration, I have formally asked Representative Byrd to step down from his position as Chairman of the House Education Administration Subcommittee. Representative Byrd agrees that this is the best path forward in ensuring the House of Representatives can focus on the issues that truly matter to all Tennesseans. This decision is based on input from members and to continue the orderly operations of the House. I thank Representative Byrd for agreeing to serve in this position, and I am confident this body will be even stronger moving forward."
In recent weeks, Casada has come under fire for defending Byrd.
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