Tenn. Senate leader says harassment not the norm

Some of those encounters involved alcohol where he would mix in comments of a sexual nature and engage in inappropriate physical contact with some women.

The report also includes another woman – identified as Jane Doe 9 – who said during the 2013 or 2014 legislative session that Durham had a dish of candy on his desk. That cute nickname comes from a particularly odd Jane Doe No. 9, identified in the report as a lobbyist, visited Durham’s office and asked if she could have a candy from the dish he kept on his desk. And now they’re going to let him not only finish out his term in November, but they’re going to let him run for office still? Their names are being kept confidential. While the report said no direct evidence came forward to the office that showed Rep. Durham had changed his vote by a lobbyist’s response to his behavior, it did question the professionalism and boundaries set forth in his relationships.

One lobbyist told investigators that she feared crossing him because “they have the trump card”.

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. She says lawmakers have known since at least previous year that Durham was engaging in inappropriate behavior but have let the investigation, which began in February, drag on for months.

Despite the findings in the report, lawmakers will not move to expel Durham from the House of Representatives even though top leaders want him gone. “Period. End of story”. Although the committee found enough evidence to recommend expelling Durham from the legislature, committee Chairman Rep. Steve McDaniel, R-Parkers Crossroads, argued the close proximity to the August 4 primary election would make it “very hard to get members back for a special session”. Durham has told The Tennessean he can’t remember sending such messages and denies sexually harassing anyone. He’s also been banished to an out-of-the-way office in another building.

“Therefore, if the Ad Hoc Select Committee and Speaker Harwell decide to release this information publicly, they will be in violation of the House approved Article II, Section 12 Tennessee General Assembly Sexual Harassment Policy”, he concluded.

“Absolutely not. This may be one of the few times in his life he has been held accountable”, Harwell said of Durham.

Durham, R-Franklin, and his attorney, Bill Harbison, fought for several days to prevent the release of the report.

The college student who had the affair with Durham later cried when speaking to investigators.

Finally, Slatery argues that Durham can not claim due process violations because the U.S. Supreme Court has found individuals have no property or liberty interest in an elected office.

A hearing in Davidson County Chancery Court on the request to stop the report’s release is scheduled for Tuesday.

Afterward the report’s release, Durham’s attorney, Bill Harbison, issued a statement. The investigation has been a politically motivated, unfair and unconstitutional process.