MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A Tennessee lawmaker wants the state’s Attorney General to issue an opinion if former President Donald Trump can appear on the Tennessee ballot despite his conviction on 34 felony counts in New York.
In a letter to Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti dated May 31, 2024, Nashville State Rep. Vincent Dixie (D-District 54) asks the AG for a formal legal opinion on Trump’s eligibility for the ballot after being convicted of he said was an “infamous crime” in another state.
Rep. Dixie cites Tennessee Code Title 40, Criminal Procedure § 40-20-114 which states:
- (a) A person who has been convicted in this state of an infamous crime, as defined by § 40-20-112, other than one specified in subsection (b), or convicted under the laws of the United States or another state of an offense that would constitute an infamous crime if committed in this state, shall be disqualified from qualifying for, seeking election to or holding a public office in this state, unless and until that person's citizenship rights have been restored by a court of competent jurisdiction.
Dixie said in the letter that the statute’s intent is to “protect the public from individuals who refuse to adhere to the laws they are meant to uphold.”
“Given the severity and nature of these crimes, which include lying in official filings and engaging in deceitful practices to influence the outcome of an election, I seek your legal interpretation on whether Donald Trump’s convictions in New York constitute an ‘infamous crime’ under Tennessee law,” said Dixie.
“It is crucial for Tennesseans to trust that their elected officials are held to the highest standards of legality and ethics,” Dixie continued. “Allowing a candidate with such convictions to appear on the ballot would undermine this trust and the rule of law.”