Months ago, this Tennessee lawmaker from the Republican party was facing charges of sexual harassment. After a thorough investigation, findings confirm the allegations against Rep. Jeremy Durha: he sexually harassed 22 women in his job.
According to The Washington Times, investigators released a 48-page final report of Durnham's sexual acts while on office. It details romantic and sexual encounters with his female staff, interns, lobbyists, and political workers who most of which reported that they could not say no to their boss.
Despite the sexual harassment cases, Durnham refused to resign and is running a re-election bid. Voting for state primaries will begin on Friday and Appointed Chairman of the special committee presiding over Durnham's case, Rep. Steve McDaniel, said this is how Durnham's punishment would be decided upon. The outcome of the elections will be his fate.
The Washington Times narrates some of the stories of the 22 anonymous women who had sexual contact with Durnham. Some of them have lost their interest in politics; many of them said they refused Durnham's sexual advances but the lawmaker did not retreat from the act. He made sexual comments, offered hugs, kisses and alcohol and continually communicated with females he wanted to see alone again (via The Washington Times).
Currently, Durnham is holding office at a different building and has limited access to the Capitol. House Speaker Beth Harwell said this arrangement would continue even if the Republican lawmaker is re-elected to protect female staff (via The Washington Times).
As per Daily Mail last April, Jeremy Durham is being accused of inappropriate sexual behavior by 34 women, and not just 22. Because of this, Harwell investigated Durnham's 'pattern of conduct' in terms of interacting with women which led to the relocation of the Republican lawmaker's office.
According to The Tennessean, the young Republican is described by his colleagues as overly aggressive, unpredictable, inappropriate, pushy and short-tempered. He is the son of two small business owners in Adamsville, Tennessee. His major was Political Science at the University of Tennessee.
In 2003, the present lawmaker was arrested on charges of aggravated burglary, vandalism and theft. In 2005, Durnham's student government party overspent during the election campaign.
Aside from the troubles, he started his own law practice, Durnham and Associates, shortly after passing the bar in 2009. In 2014, he became a managing partner at Battleground Title & Escrow. In 2012, he bested two other candidates and won in the Republican primary.
Would you vote Republican lawmaker, Jeremy Durnham, for reelection? If he gets elected, what punishment could he have endured after being proclaimed guilty by an investigation that he sexually harassed his women staff? Sound off your thoughts in the Viewpoint Discussion and follow Parent Herald for more news and updates.
