Tennessee Dem cut off after calling GOP speaker 'drunk with power' during legislative session

Although dominated by Republicans, the Tennessee State Legislature has some very outspoken Democrats — including State Rep. Justin Jones, who, according to WZTV Channel 17 in Nashville, was cut off while criticizing Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton during a legislative session on Wednesday, January 10.

Jones criticized Sexton as "drunk with power," describing an incident in which Cameron's security wouldn't let him or State Rep. William Lamberth, a conservative Republican, share an elevator with the speaker.

Jones, on the floor, told fellow lawmakers, "Yesterday, I witnessed something that really appalled me that related to these rules. Myself and the Republican majority leader, my friend William Lamberth, were trying to get on the elevator. And the speaker's security put his hand up to Lamberth and said, 'You can't get on with the speaker.' He pushed our Republican majority leader and said, 'You cannot get on with the speaker.'"

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Jones, according to Nashville's WZTV Channel 17, was cut off by State Rep. John Ragan, a Republican, after describing Sexton as "drunk with power." And after that, the Tennessee House voted to let Jones continue speaking on the floor.

In 2023, Jones was expelled from the Tennessee House because of his role in a pro-gun control protest but subsequently won back his seat.

READ MORE: 'Miscarriage of justice': Metro Nashville council reappoints Justin Jones

Watch the video of Jones' speech below or at this link.

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