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VOL. 40 | NO. 29 | Friday, July 15, 2016
Democratic women demand Durham ouster
NASHVILLE (AP) - A group of Democratic women is calling on Tennessee House Speaker Beth Harwell to oust Republican state Rep. Jeremy Durham after an investigation found he used his position to sexually harass at least 22 female interns, lobbyists, staff and political workers.
Harwell on Wednesday called Durham's behavior toward women "repulsive." But she stopped short of calling a special session of the legislature to consider an ouster, saying the voters of Durham's district should decide his fate.
A Wednesday report from a committee investigating Durham said any ouster would only last until November and not be binding on the next General Assembly.
At a news conference on Thursday, Tennessee Democratic Party Chair Mary Mancini said Harwell should have acted sooner and more decisively to protect women at the Capitol.