Embattled state Representative Jeremy Durham said he will attend a special legislative session if "it remotely resembles something fair."
Reached by phone on Thursday, the Republican who has represented the 65th district said he still hasn't decided whether he will attend a roll call vote scheduled for Monday during a special emergency session being called by Governor Haslam.
"If I'm going to provide a distraction, I don't want to be there. If there's no fair trial then I'll just be a spectacle," he added.
In July Rep. Durham announced he would not seek reelection after a scathing report was released by the state attorney general alleging that Durham engaged in inappropriate sexual conduct with 22 women on the hill.
Durham vehemently denied the allegations, adding that he does not believe he should be expelled from the House unless Speaker Beth Harwell allows him to subpoena witnesses and have what he calls a "fair trial."
"If [Beth Harwell] wants this to be fair, I would welcome that," Rep. Durham said.
Sources told NewsChannel 5 that lawmakers will likely make a motion to expel Rep. Durham during next week's special session - expelling Durham would keep him from collecting a pension once he leaves office.
"You're talking about expelling someone who's never been charged with a crime. It's un-American," Rep. Durham added.
He likened the process he is facing to medieval days when a person would be allowed to proclaim their innocence, "moments before chopping someone's head off," he said.
Durham also questioned whether state lawmakers would be acting in accordance with the state constitution by introducing a motion that differs from the Governor's business for calling the special sessions.
Governor Haslam announced in early September he would be calling lawmakers into a special session to address a change in the state's DUI law that could cost the state $60 million in federal highway funds.
Lawmakers have been scheduled to reconvene on Monday at 2 p.m.
