While speaking on the floor, Jones held no punches:

“Let’s talk about expulsion. For years, one of your colleagues, an admitted child molester, sat in this chamber ⁠— no expulsion. One member sits in this chamber who was found guilty of domestic violence ⁠— no expulsion. We had a former speaker sit in this chamber who is now under federal investigation ⁠— no expulsion. We have a member still under federal investigation ⁠— no expulsion.”

Jones continued to prove his point of a potential bias.

“We had another member pee in another member’s chair in this chamber ⁠— no expulsion. In fact, they’re in leadership.”

He added, “Since you’re trying to put us on trial, what you’re really putting on trial is the state of Tennessee. What you’re really showing for the world is holding up a mirror to a state that is going back to some dark, dark roots, a state in which the Ku Klux Klan was founded is now attempting another power grab by silencing the two youngest Black representatives and one of the only Democratic women in this body. That’s what this is about. Let us be real today.”

Rep. Gloria Johnson

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