NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A Republican lawmaker in Tennessee resigned Thursday because of an ethics violation involving the Legislature’s office discrimination and harassment coverage.

Rep. Scotty Campbell, vice chair of the House Republican Caucus, was among the many GOP legislators who voted two weeks in the past to expel two Black Democratic lawmakers for protesting in assist of gun management on the House flooring.

The Mountain City lawmaker issued his resignation efficient instantly, a letter to fellow legislators states.

WTVF-TV first reported on the discovering by the Ethics Subcommittee, which issued its determination on March 29 in a doc addressed to Republican House Speaker Cameron Sexton. The doc says the panel discovered Campbell violated the Legislature’s office discrimination and harassment coverage.

When requested in regards to the ethics panel determination by WTVF-TV on Thursday, Campbell mentioned, “I had consensual, adult conversations with two adults off property.”

“I think conversations are consensual once that is verbally agreed to. If I choose to talk to any intern in the future, it will be recorded,” he mentioned.

Campbell resigned about 6 hours after the TV station questioned him. He had remained a lawmaker after the late-March ethics discovering, and voted earlier this month to expel two lawmakers. They have since been reinstated. He additionally voted to expel Democratic Rep. Gloria Johnson, who’s white. Johnson was spared expulsion by one vote.

Connie Ridley, the General Assembly’s director of legislative administration, produced the Ethics Subcommittee’s findings doc in response to a information request.

The Ethics Subcommittee discovering says, “Discrimination and harassment in any form will not be tolerated.” It says no additional data on the ethics grievance can be launched.

Campbell’s departure comes within the waning moments of a months-long legislative session. GOP legislative leaders are attempting to complete their work by the tip of the week.

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