Republican House Speaker Beth Harwell said she now supports convening a special session to expel a state lawmaker accused of sexually harassing at least 22 women.
Democrats this week called for the special session in order to deny Republican Representative Jeremy Durham a pension of more than $300 per month even if he's not re-elected this year.
Harwell initially opposed that call on the basis of cost, but said Thursday that she changed her mind after speaking with House Majority Leader Gerald McCormick and Republican Caucus Chairman Glen Casada. She urged Durham to resign to save taxpayer money.
Durham suspended his re-election campaign earlier in July after a state attorney general's office released a report containing numerous allegations of sexual harassment. The lawmaker has denied nearly all of the allegations.
Speaker Harwell released the following statement Thursday evening:
"I have spoken with Leader McCormick and Chairman Casada, and I am supportive of their effort to call a special session. While it is up to the voters of 65th District to determine whether Rep. Durham is on the ballot in November, it is up to the members of the Tennessee General Assembly to determine whether he should be expelled, which would ensure he does not receive retirement benefits. As I noted yesterday, it will take two-thirds of both chambers to call the Tennessee General Assembly back into a special session. My primary concerns are protecting the victims and ensuring Rep. Durham is removed from office. Once again, I call on him to resign, and save the taxpayers' dollars."
