Tennessee lawmakers are formally asking the state’s top lawyer to investigate misconduct allegations against Franklin Representative Jeremy Durham.
A House panel voted unanimously Monday afternoon to ask Attorney General Herbert Slatery to look into claims that Durham sexually harassed three women, as well as other allegations.
State Rep. Steve McDaniel, R-Parkers Crossroads, the lawmaker chairing the investigation, said there’s no timetable for the attorney general to report back. But he bristled at suggestions that state legislators are kicking the can down the road.
“We did a lot today,” he said. “We formalized our request to the attorney general to investigate. That’s the first step.”
One member of the panel investigating Durham told The Tennessean before the meeting that its scope ”
could be huge,” but lawmakers met for just three minutes on the matter. The only action they took was to hand the investigation over to the attorney general. He’ll have the power to interview witnesses and issue subpoenas.
Democratic Party Chair Mary Mancini criticized the action. She says Republican leaders are moving too slowly and have not put enough women on the investigation team.