- The expulsion stemmed from three Democratic lawmakers breaking House rules to lead a gun-reform protest from the chamber’s floor.
- Republicans moved swiftly to take action, expelling two of the three in a historic vote.
- But the Democrats received widespread attention and were quickly reappointed to the House until special elections can be held later this year.
Shouting “Welcome home! Welcome home!,” crowds on the steps of the Tennessee Capitol pressed around expelled Rep. Justin Jones, trying to catch a glimpse of history as Jones raised his right hand to retake the oath of office Monday — less than half an hour after Nashville’s Metro Council unanimously reappointed him to the Tennessee House of Representatives.
Moments later, Jones, D-Nashville, triumphantly reentered the House chamber, just one legislative day after being expelled for hijacking House proceedings by using a bullhorn to call for gun reform. Jones did not miss a single bill vote.