Mark Lovell

Overview

Tennessee Republican freshman state Representative Mark Lovell resigned on February 14, 2017, just weeks into his first legislative session, after a legislative staff worker accused him of inappropriate sexual touching. The House Ethics Subcommittee later found he had violated the chamber’s sexual-harassment policy.

Description

A legislative staff worker accused Lovell, a fair and carnival operator from suburban Shelby County, of touching her inappropriately. Lovell denied ‘any sexual harassment allegations’ but submitted a resignation letter citing unspecified family and business demands. After his resignation, the state House Ethics Subcommittee found that he had in fact violated the chamber’s new sexual-harassment policy. Newschannel 5 later reported that Lovell, who returned to public affairs, was also found guilty of sexually harassing legislative interns.