Freshman Tennessee Republican Legislator Resigns As Allegations Of 'Inappropriate Touching' Swirl: Report

NASHVILLE, TN — A freshman member of the Tennessee General Assembly submitted his resignation from the House of Representatives Tuesday as accusations of inappropriate sexual contact emerged, sources tell The Tennessean.

State Rep. Mark Lovell, Republican of Eads, insisted there was no wrongdoing on his part, but confirmed to the newspaper that he resigned, a little over a month after being sworn in for his first term. Lovell's resignation letter instead said that he found "the time requirements needed to represent my constituents are more than I anticipated." For updates on the General Assembly and other local news that affects you, find and subscribe to your local Middle Tennessee Patch.

The sources, which The Tennessean said included a fellow Republican member of the General Assembly, said Lovell engaged in "inappropriate touching" with a woman last week.

Neither House Speaker Beth Harwell or Senate Majority Leader Randy McNally would confirm — or deny — that an investigation was underway, the newspaper said.

“If a complaint is filed and still in the investigation phase, the process is confidential in order to protect the identities of the victim(s) and witnesses, and so I would be unable to comment,” Harwell said in a statement sent to The Tennessean. “However, if a violation is found, it will absolutely be a public record, as stated in the policy, and appropriate action would be taken.”

Under the legislature's sexual harassment policy, allegations can be investigated by either Harwell's office or the Office of Legislative Administration; later Tuesday, Harwell told reporters there would be no investigation by her office because Lovell resigned, saying "my jurisdiction has ended."

The allegations come just weeks after legislators and staff were required to watch a much-lampooned sexual harassment training video. The policy detailing the investigative procedure and requiring the training came after former House Majority Whip Jeremy Durham, Republican of Franklin, was expelled from the legislature for allegations of inappropriate sexual contact and sexual harassment.

Lovell, 58, is married and has three children.

Image via State of Tennessee