TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Amelia Ferrell Knisely on Jan 25, 2016

House Speaker Beth Harwell is creating an independent committee to review the legislature’s 19-year-old sexual harassment policy. Harwell, R-Nashville, also announced that as a precautionary measure, interns will not be permitted to attend receptions or events related to the legislature. The announcement comes on the heels of The Tennessean investigation that revealed Rep. Jeremy Durham, R-Franklin, sent inappropriate text messages to women who worked in the statehouse. GOP leaders have come under fire from Tennessee Democratic Party Chair Mary Mancini, who today called for Harwell and House GOP Caucus Chairman Glen Casada, R-Frankin, to resign from their leadership positions. The Tennessean reports Mancini claims the pair created a “toxic workplace."