Today's topic is hypocrisy.
The Tennessee General Assembly wants bathroom monitors to make sure boys in skirts are going only to boys' bathrooms because of a baseless fear that transgenders want to harass or attack little girls.
Yet a lawmaker is still sitting in the Tennessee General Assembly despite serial sexual harassment complaints made public earlier this year by women in our state Capitol and a damning preliminary report from Attorney General Herbert Slatery released this week.
The report states that Rep. Jeremy Durham's "behavior may pose a continuing risk to unsuspecting women who are employed by or interact with the Legislature."
And, yes - irony of irony - Durham, 32 and a Republican from Franklin, Tenn., was a co-sponsor of the so-called bathroom bill. The Associated Press reports that late-night comedians have had a field day with this fact, some suggesting that a man called out for his behavior toward women at the Legislature didn't have much standing to protect the privacy of people going to the bathroom.
Slatery, in a letter to lawmakers, said he has interviewed 34 people so far in his investigation of Durham's alleged sexually explicit texts and other communications to female lobbyists and younger interns. It's true that these women could reject his advances, but many told the investigating committee they were afraid for their jobs.
"With few exceptions, the women who related incidents felt they could not report Representative Durham's behavior because nothing could be done and they did not want to lose their jobs or be considered 'untrustworthy' by employers, clients or legislators," Slatery's memo states, adding that women who continue to work at the legislature "avoid or refuse to be alone with Representative Durham, a situation which has affected their ability to perform their jobs."
Durham has claimed not to remember the inappropriate communications, but after the attorney general's preliminary report, released in early April, Republican House Speaker Beth Harwell effectively exiled Durham from the legislative office complex and Capitol for any purpose other than to perform his official duties. So while Durham's colleagues headed to emergency, end-of-session caucus meetings, he sat quietly at his desk in the empty chamber. During reconvenings and debates, he was shunned, according to The Associated Press. Harwell also limited his access to certain legislative buildings - a move that included moving his office across the street. And he was barred from having contact with almost all staff or interns as the investigation continues.
Thus far our majority Republican lawmakers - the ones who want bathroom monitors - have resisted calls to expel Durham from the General Assembly. Some called on him to resign his seat, but he opted instead just to resign from his No. 4 leadership position of Republican Majority Whip.
And he says he plans to run for re-election.
Come on, folks. Where are the Capitol monitors?