NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A state lawmaker accused of sexually harassing female staff wants to prevent the results of an attorney general's office investigation from becoming public.
State Rep. Jeremy Durham on Friday filed a lawsuit in which he claims the investigation violates the Tennessee Constitution and his right to due process.
House Speaker Beth Harwell asked the attorney general's office to investigate after several women alleged inappropriate behavior by Durham, both in person and via text messages. She also formed a special committee.
Durham, R-Franklin, stepped down as House majority whip in January and withdrew from the Republican caucus. He also took a two-week break to seek unspecified medical and pastoral counseling. But he has denied any wrongdoing and has resisted calls from GOP leaders that he resign his seat.
Durham's lawsuit says no formal sexual harassment complaint has been filed against him. It also says Durham has not been allowed to know exactly what he is accused of or to defend himself.
In April, Attorney General Herbert Slatery released a preliminary report finding that Durham could pose a risk to "unsuspecting women" at the Capitol complex and recommending the House take action to avoid a hostile work environment for women there.
In response, Harwell moved Durham's office to another building and limited his access to committee rooms and the House chamber to when meetings were taking place.
Durham's lawsuit seeks to stop the release of Slatery's final report on the investigation, which could come on Wednesday. It says releasing the report before early voting begins on Friday will damage Durham's chance for re-election.
The suit seeks a temporary court order that would become permanent if the court were to find that the investigation does violate Durham's constitutional right to due process and the separation of powers outlined in the Tennessee Constitution.
Durham argues that only the legislature can investigate its members. The attorney general's office issued an opinion in May saying a special House committee gave Slatery the authority to conduct the probe.
A hearing in Davidson County Chancery Court on the request to stop the report's release is scheduled for Tuesday.
Harwell issued a statement saying, "It's unfortunate that Representative Durham is choosing to delay the Ad Hoc Committee's work, which should be brought to a conclusion, and the results of the investigation made public."
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This story has been updated to correct the first name of Tennessee Attorney General Herbert Slatery.