State Rep. Joe Armstrong quits while facing ouster from House colleagues

NASHVILLE - State Rep. Joe Armstrong today informed Gov. Bill Haslam and legislative leaders that he is resigning from the Tennessee House effective Monday, heading off expected efforts by the chamber to oust him following the Knoxville Democrat's recent felony conviction on federal tax evasion charges.

State lawmakers are returning to Nashville on Monday for a special session called by Haslam to deal with the mess created by a new DUI statute that threatens to cost the state $60 million in federal transportation funds.

But House majority Republicans are expected to use the occasion to oust both Armstrong and another lawmaker, Rep. Jeremy Durham, R-Franklin.

An investigation earlier this year by Tennessee Attorney General Herbert Slatery outlined cases where 22 women accused Durham, 32, of sexual harassment. The two-term Republican denies many of the charges.

Republican House Speaker Beth Harwell told reporters earlier this week she believes the chamber will meet the removal requirement that says at least two thirds or 66 of the 99-member chamber must vote to oust Durham.

Durham has questioned the procedure and indicated he would like to confront the women who are accusing him. But it is unclear how much of a defense Durham will be able to mount.

With Armstrong resigning effective Monday, Durham alone will be on the legislative hot seat.

Durham's once-promising political career began cratering amid charges of erratic behavior as well as accusations from a number of women that he used his position to either seek or suggest sexual relations with female Capitol Hill workers, lobbyists or others.

While Durham lost his Aug. 4 GOP primary, he will remain eligible for a taxpayer-funded pension of some $344 a month once he turns 55 if he serves until his term runs out on Nov. 8.

That's the same day as the general election. The situation has prompted lawmakers' desire to oust Durham now to deny him the pension benefit.

Meanwhile, Armstrong told Haslam in his resignation letter on Friday that it has been "an honor to serve this state for nearly 28 years."

"It is with my deepest regrets that I choose not to participate in the upcoming Special Session and am announcing my retirement to become effective Monday, Sept. 12, 2016 as a state representative for the 15th district," Armstrong wrote without mentioning his felony conviction.

Armstrong was convicted by a federal jury on charges he illegally didn't report profits on he made selling state-issued cigarette tax stamps he bought prior to legislative action raising cigarette taxes. While Armstrong voted for the cigarette tax stamp increase, that was legal under Tennessee law.

But his failure to report the windfall profit was illegal.