Tennessee

Ousted Tennessee Rep. Sues House Speaker For Expelling And Silencing Him

Published

1 year ago

October 3, 2023

Ousted Tennessee Rep. Sues House Speaker For Expelling And Silencing Him

Topline

Tennessee state Rep. Justin Jones, a Democrat representing parts of Nashville, has sued the House speaker who led the effort to expel Jones and one of his colleagues from the legislature in April—the latest aftermath of an event that thrust Jones into the national spotlight.

Tennessee state Rep. Justin Jones speaks from the House floor during a special session of the state … [+] legislature on public safety, August 28, 2023, in Nashville. (AP Photo/George Walker IV, File)

Key Facts

Jones’ lawsuit, filed Tuesday in Nashville federal court, argued House Speaker Cameron Sexton and Republicans deprived him of committee appointments, denied him the legislative tenure he would have earned during his expulsion and forced him to spend $70,000 on a new reelection campaign to return to the House.

Jones also argues the proceedings in which he and one other lawmaker were ousted were “rigged against them from the start” and a violation of the due process clause of the Constitution because he wasn’t given adequate time and resources to mount a defense.

Jones also alleged that Sexton, since he returned to the House, violated his freedom of speech when he enacted new rules that allowed him to silence Jones during an August special session.

The lawsuit alleges racial discrimination, arguing Jones, who is Black, was treated differently than one of his white colleagues because of his race.

Forbes has reached out to Sexton for comment.

Key Background

In April, Jones and two of his Democratic colleagues, Justin Pearson and Gloria Johnson, joined protesters on the House floor in demanding the state take action on gun violence after a school shooting in Nashville left six dead, including three 9-year-olds and three teachers. Jones, Pearson and Johnson joined protesters who had disrupted debate and entered the House floor. Republicans in the House, led by Sexton, voted to expel Jones and Pearson—but narrowly voted not to expel Johnson—over the incident, arguing they violated House rules. Both Jones and Pearson were subsequently reappointed to the House by local officials responsible for naming their replacements and re-elected to their seats by voters in August, but not before the event sparked a nationwide controversy and gave the three representatives—nicknamed the “Tennessee Three”—national name recognition. Johnson was not expelled because the resolution seeking to remove her failed to receive the necessary two-thirds majority vote. When asked why she wasn’t expelled but her colleagues were, Johnson (who is white, while Jones and Pearson are Black) said, “It might have to do with the color of our skin.”

News Peg

This is not the first attack Jones has launched against Sexton since the speaker ousted him. In August, Jones called for a vote of no confidence against Sexton, accusing him of “leading our state down the path to failure, humiliation and authoritarianism.” Jones’ proposal did not come to fruition in the Republican supermajority House.

Tangent

Jones is not the only member of the “Tennessee Three” to make headlines since the incident in April. In early September, Johnson announced she was running for U.S. Senate. If she wins the primary election, she will challenge incumbent Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.). Pearson is serving as a co-chair of her campaign.

Titans Predicted for Another Loss vs. Texans

Published

11 mins ago

November 23, 2024

Press Room

Titans Predicted for Another Loss vs. Texans

The Tennessee Titans are just one day away from their next matchup against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium.

The Titans are looking for their first win since Week 9, when they beat the New England Patriots at home. In the last two weeks, Tennessee has lost by double digits to strong playoff-contending teams, and this week might not be much different against the first-place Texans.

CBS Sports writer Pete Prisco believes the Titans’ struggles will continue, falling 31-21 to the Texans.

“The Texans are playing on a short week, but they looked better on offense against Dallas with Nico Collins back. The Titans will have trouble stopping them this week, so look for the Texans and C.J. Stroud to play well. Will Levis won’t keep up,” Prisco writes.

The Titans will have to stop Houston’s multi-dimensional offense with Joe Mixon on the ground and Collins and Tank Dell through the air. Tennessee has the No. 2 overall defense this season, so it should provide a good test for C.J. Stroud and the Texans offense, but it still doesn’t make them a favorite.

If the Titans want to win against the Texans, they will have to pressure Stroud and take advantage of their offensive line, which has proven to be suspect at times during the season.

When it comes to the Titans’ offense, it needs to take care of the ball. Giving the Texans shorter fields will be the easiest way to lose the game, so if the Titans can prevent the Texans from scoring up close on short drives, they will have a chance to be competitive against their division rival.

Kickoff between the Titans and Texans is set for 12 noon CT tomorrow. The game can be watched on CBS or streamed on Paramount+.

Make sure you bookmark Tennessee Titans on SI for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more!

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Tennessee

Tennessee football commit Ethan Utley not looking ahead after Ensworth’s season ends vs McCallie

Published

8 hours ago

November 23, 2024

Press Room

Tennessee football commit Ethan Utley not looking ahead after Ensworth’s season ends vs McCallie

There was a reason Tennessee football commit Ethan Utley didn’t make any trips to Knoxville during the home stretch of Ensworth’s season.

Utley wanted to be fully locked into the Tigers’ TSSAA football playoffs run.

That’s one reason why Friday’s tearful postgame was so difficult. McCallie ended Ensworth’s season, defeating the Tigers 31-7 to advance to the Division II-AAA state final on Dec. 5 in Chattanooga against Baylor.

Utley, a 6-foot-4, 265-pound four-star defensive lineman, doesn’t know if he’ll enroll early at Tennessee yet. He hasn’t been thinking that far ahead. Everything lately, he said, was about the Tigers trying to reach their first TSSAA football state championship game since 2014.

“It hurts and it will hurt for a while. My mind was set on going to the state championship,” Utley said. “All the personal stuff, it doesn’t really matter. I knew Ensworth was going to be my home and where I would graduate from. I never wanted to transfer. My seniors and I gave it everything we could and just fell short.”

Ensworth (11-1) trailed just 7-0 at halftime. McCallie (10-2) began to put the game out of reach when Vanderbilt commitment Carson Lawrence returned an interception 44 yards for a touchdown to go up 21-7 with 10:46 left.

Utley, who appeared in all 45 of Ensworth’s games since the beginning of his freshman season, played through an injury most of the second half until the pain became too much. He said he was kneed in one of his nerves in his right shin. He was helped to the bench by Ensworth staffers late in the fourth quarter.

“I told myself if it has to end this way, I’m going to have to get dragged off this field,” Utley said. “And that’s what happened.”

Utley is the No. 3 prospect from Tennessee in the 2025 class and No. 21 defensive lineman nationally, according to the 247Sports Composite. He intends to sign with the Volunteers when the early period begins Dec. 4.

“He’s super athletic for his size, very smart,” Ensworth coach Tim Hasselbeck said. “Depending on how he wants to change his body in the weight room, how he eats, he’ll figure out what position he’ll play. I think he could play on either side of the ball. He’s got a very bright future.”

Utley was an easy teammate to get along with, Hasselbeck said. That’s where Utley’s focus was Friday as he hugged players on the field one last time.

But he knows a big stage awaits in Knoxville.

“I’m excited for the competition. I’m grateful to be able to go play Division I football in the SEC. Most kids can’t say they can go do that,” Utley said. “I’ve been through some hard times. For that to be my next step, I’m more than blessed. When I get healthy and get my body right, get back in that weight room, get back on the field and start attacking it more, I’ll start getting ready for the bigger things ahead.”

Get the latest news and insight on High School football recruiting and local high school sports with The Bootleg newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox.

Reach sports writer George Robinson at georgerobinsontheleafchronicle.com and on the X platform (formerly Twitter) @Cville_Sports.

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Tennessee

Titans RB Out vs. Texans

Published

16 hours ago

November 22, 2024

Press Room

The Tennessee Titans are finishing up their practice runs before facing the Houston Texans in Week 12, but there is a key player on the offense who won’t be making the trip to the Lone Star State.

According to team reporter Jim Wyatt, running back Tyjae Spears has been ruled out for the team’s game against the Texans as he has yet to clear the league’s concussion protocol.

Spears, a second-year pro out of Tulane, has been bit many times by the injury bug this season. The Week 12 contest will mark Spears’ fourth game missed this season.

So far this season, Spears has ran the ball 43 times for 161 yards and a touchdown.

With Spears out, starting running back Tony Pollard will continue to have a bulk of the carries while Julius Chestnut and Josh Kelley handle backup duties.

Also out for the Titans is offensive tackle Leroy Watson IV. Linebacker Jack Gibbens and cornerback L’Jarius Sneed are also ruled out on the injury report, but both of them will be placed on injured reserve.

Kickoff between the Titans and Texans is set for 12 noon CT on Sunday inside NRG Stadium.

Make sure you bookmark Tennessee Titans on SI for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more!

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