The 12 Most Creeptastic Incidents In TN Lawmaker’s Serial Sexual Misconduct

A report released on Wednesday revealed a series of creepy incidents between Republican Tennessee state Rep. Jeremy Durham and at least 22 women working at or with the legislature, in which the lawmaker sexually harassed or made inappropriate physical contact with the women.

Over the course of about four years, Durham preyed on a 20-year-old campaign staffer, interns, young legislative employees and several lobbyists.

He harassed women over text message, peppering them with unsolicited requests to get drinks and attempting to get them alone. He made inappropriate and suggestive comments during conversations about legislative business. Durham often appeared drunk during the incidents and frequently offered the women drinks.

One woman described Durham’s flirting as “aggressive.” He made inappropriate comments about women’s appearances, their clothes, and their breasts. The lawmaker also made unwanted physical contact with some of the women, such as lingering with a close hug and an out-of-the-blue kiss on the neck.

In compiling the report, the attorney general’s office made more than 100 phone calls, conducted 78 interviews, and reviewed text messages. The report noted that many of the women did not initially report the incidents because they did not want to appear “untrustworthy.”

Below are some of the creepiest, most inappropriate incidents detailed in the report:

“Pants Candy”

A lobbyist, identified as “Jane Doe #9,” told investigators that at one point she was alone with Durham in his office. He had a dish of candy on his desk. She told investigators that when she wanted a piece of candy, Durham “reached into his pocket, rummaged around in it, pulled out an unwrapped, dirty mint, and said, ‘You don’t want those. I’ve got this.'” She thought it was a joke and referred to him as “Pants Candy” with others.

Another legislative staff member recalled the story that Jane Doe #9 told him at the time. The legislative staff member said that when Jane Doe #9 asked for a mint, Durham “stood up behind his desk, put his hand in his pocket, and moved it around in a manner that made ‘quite a display’ of accentuating his genitalia,'” and then pulled the mint out of his pocket.

Another legislative staff member also recalled the story as told by Jane Doe #9, saying that Durham “started digging around in his pocket in a manner that was drawing attention to his genitalia.”

Said his roommate would be gone

A lobbyist identified as “Jane Doe #63” said that when she first met Durham at an event, he was “leering” at her. He then sent her a private Facebook message commenting on a photo, saying, “Damn you look amazing,” according to the report. He continued to send her Facebook messages.

Later, when the lobbyist was working on a bill that Durham has influence over, the lawmaker began sending her text messages. He said things like “My gosh it’s hot when you break out the legal rhetoric,” and “Can’t stop thinking about you and I kinda wish I were kidding but not really…It’s the way you carry yourself. My gosh.”

And he once asked her to meet for drinks. During the text message conversation, Durham said, “What about thurs-sun…My roommate is gone and I’ll be super bored,” according to the report.” After the lobbyist replied with “Nice try,” Durham said, “That’s not what I meant…I was trying to be transparent!”

Tried to kiss an intern

One 23-year-old intern, “Jane Doe #44,” told investigators that Durham struck up a conversation with her at an evening event. He offered to help her since she was looking to go to law school, and he asked for her number.

Later in the evening, he appeared intoxicated and started additional conversations with the female intern. She told investigators that he asked her to move their conversation outside on the patio. At that point he became “aggressive” and “very flirtatious,” according to the intern. She said that he kept moving closer to her and tried to kisser her. She backed away and reminded him that he is married. He soon left the patio after additional guests joined the two outside, according to the report.

The intern texted him the next day with concerns since her colleagues heard rumors about her and Durham. He dismissed her concern, and later tried texting her again.

An uncomfortable hug

A female lobbyist, identified as “Jane Doe #17,” told investigators that during a meeting with Durham, he closed the door to his office and offered her a drink. She declined, and he then took a seat next to her on the couch. Per the report:

He took out the lobbyist handbook and made comments as he looked at the pictures such as “I think she is really hot” or “I don’t like her.” He told Jane Doe #17 that “you’re the hottest girl in here.” He also told her that they could talk like this because nothing was going to happen and “we’re buddies.” He told her that she was so “distracting” that when he had seen her leaning over wearing a certain dress, it was all he could do to stay focused. She recalled Rep. Durham saying something to the effect that she had the kind of figure he finds attractive. Jane Doe #17 reminded him that he had a pretty wife at home, which he dismissed. When she got up to leave after about 20 minutes, Rep. Durham came over to her, moved into her, and gave her a full fontal hug, squeezing her breasts into him and making a sound like “mmmmmm.”

The lobbyist said that after that meeting, Durham kept flirting with her and sending her text messages.

Asked for “a peck on the lips”

During a text message conversation before the legislative session began with the same lobbyist, Jane Doe #17, Durham said that he missed her, according to the report. She replied that the legislature would be back in session soon. Then over several texts he said, “I want to see you before that. Of course, you realize I could never tell you no. You know I’ll do whatever you want. Just want a big hug.”

Jane Doe #17 responded with “ha!” And Durham replied, “Is a peck on the lips out of the question? Yes, I asked that,” according to the report.

“You look hot with my sticker on”

A legislative staffer identified as “Jane Doe #24” worked for another legislator. She said that during a meeting with Durham and her boss, the conversation turned to breast implants. Durham turned to Jane Doe #24 at one point and said, “Some people don’t need them.”

Durham later got her phone number and asked if she wanted to get drinks. She went, assuming it would be with a group, but he was alone. He moved to sit next to her at a booth, put his arm around her, commented on her clothes, and said she was attractive, according to the report. Durham offered to walk her home, and then outside her home, he asked if he could come inside. She said no. He then leaned in and kissed her, prompting her to tell him nothing was going to happen. He then continued to text her on a few occasions asking if he could come to her apartment.

On another occasion, he asked her to stop by his car on her way home. In the car, he put a campaign sticker on her leg and said, “You look pretty hot with my sticker on.” He kissed her on the neck, but she did not kiss him back, according to the report.

Jane Doe #24 told investigators that she put up with Durham’s behavior in order to stay in his good graces. However, when her boss heard that she had been hanging out with Durham, she was let go. After she left the legislature, Durham asked again to see her. When she declined, he sent her a text message that said, “pics?” per the report.

Late nights with a 20-year-old

According to the report, Durham had sexual intercourse with a 20-year-old who worked for a candidate for the state senate on several occasions. The woman, identified as “Jane Doe #38,” first met him at an event. After the two had dinner twice, he invited her to his office and brought a cooler of beer. The two had sexual intercourse in the office. She then left for a summer internship in Washington, D.C., and Durham continued to send her text messages. When she returned there were two additional incidents with sexual contact.

Requests for a “pool date”

A lobbyist, “Jane Doe #47,” met Durham before he was elected to the legislature. She said he repeatedly ask her to hang out with him at the pool.

Later, after he was elected, the lobbyist asked Durham over text message why he was not voting for her position on a bill, according to the report. He replied, “Oh yeah that’s unconstitutional. I honestly didn’t vote no because it was you.”

Another time, during a text message conversation in which Durham tried to get the lobbyist to have drinks with him, the lawmaker said, “like I would ever not pick a date you chose! i mean, i am the right wing wacko who sees you bringing union bills into my office yet i still eat out of your hand for some reason!”

A few months later he texted her, “Does this mean we reschedule our pool date? Ha.” After she responded, he sent another text saying, “What if we said a smaller pool?” When she responded, “Smaller pool?” he replied, “Ha! Not sure you’re cool enough for me to put this in writing!”

And on another occasion, when she said that she would need to bring her client to a meeting with him, Durham said over text message, “Well half my ideas just got eliminated jk,” according to the report.

Rubbed a lobbyist’s thigh

A lobbyist, identified as “Jane Doe #2,” said that she took a cab with Durham, his wife, and another colleague to get drinks after an event. Durham was sitting in between Jane Doe #2 and his wife. According to the report, he “reached his hand over and began rubbing Jane Doe#2’s thigh.” She then got out of the cab and did not get drinks with the group.

“You look really hot in that skirt you are wearing”

A lobbyist, “Jane Doe #1,” told investigators that after meeting Durham a few times, he texted her after she left an event. He asked her to come outside to talk to him, and she then woke up to texts from him the next morning.

After a separate event at which she had not seen Durham, the lobbyist said that she received a text message from him saying, “You look really hot in that skirt you are wearing.”

“I’m going to expect something in return”

A lobbyist identified as “Jane Doe #30″ said that Durham told her during a meeting about legislation that he kept liquor in his office if she was ever around late and wanted a drink. At the end of the meeting, he said, “I’m for your bill but I’m going to expect something in return,” according to the lobbyist.

One of the lobbyist’s colleagues who was also interviewed by investigators about the incident said that Jane Doe #30 told him at the time that Durham said, “I’ll vote for this but you may want some of this pocket candy.”

“Your smile gave me chills”

A woman, identified as “Jane Doe #66” and described in the report as a “Female Associated with the Legislature,” said that she had become friends with Durham and a group of legislators. At one point, he asked her to meet him outside his home. Durham then told her that he had a crush on her, to which she responded that he was married. The next day, Jane Doe #66 saw Durham talking to another legislator, and he sent her a text message saying, “Your smile gave me chills,” according to the report.

Read the full report: