The ad hoc committee met Wednesday to discuss the Attorney General’s investigation on Durham. They want the results suppressed.
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It comes in the wake of a Tennessee Attorney General’s investigation released Wednesday that found multiple allegations of sexual harassment and sexual impropriety against Durham who was previously in a House leadership position for House Republicans before reports surfaced critical of his Capitol Hill behavior.
An Attorney General’s report details how the Republican lawmaker constantly pursued women for drinks, tried to get them to meet him alone, and sometimes grabbed, hugged and kissed them.
Numerous women in the report said they were unwilling to file a formal complaint for fear of losing their jobs or other retaliation.
The whole question of Durham having behaved inappropriately at the legislature came from an investigation begun by The Tennessean after three women came forward with text messages they say Durham sent to them.
Attorney General Herbert Slatery issued a statement saying he stands by the report.
“Unlike any normal legal proceeding where there is an opportunity to confront witnesses, get notice of subpoenas, or, at the very least, understand the exact allegations against a person, this investigation has been secretive and deceptive from the very beginning. As we argued today, this is a case about the abuse of governmental power and an unfair and unconstitutional process and we hoped the court would enjoin these actions”, said William Harbison, one of the attorney’s representing Durham, in a statement released after the ruling. “This may be one of the few times in his life he will be held accountable”. A new policy has not yet been made public or adopted.
“Information gathered during the investigation reveals a pattern of conduct by Rep. Durham toward current and former female legislative staff, interns, lobbyists, and others with whom he had contact as a legislator that was sexual in nature and was not related to the business of the House…His access to, interaction with, and behavior toward these women occurred because he was an elected representative and legislative leader”.
But state lawmakers are not recommending expelling him from the legislature, because they say only voters can keep him out permanently. He was not in attendance at the Capitol when their findings were released.
An investigation of a Tennessee state legislator described a dozen women who told investigators they were afraid that reporting a powerful politician’s sexual advances would ruin their careers. Durham also said he was suspending his re-election campaign to focus on his family.
A hearing in Davidson County Chancery Court on the request to stop the report’s release is scheduled for Tuesday.
Moore called on Durham to make that decision. “That’s the image of one person”, Ramsey said.
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House Speaker Beth Harwell bristles at the suggestion Durham is being let off.
