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Briley's rise through House ranks likely
halted by arrest
By ERIK SCHELZIG ,
WKRN.com
September 11, 2007
NASHVILLE, Tenn.
House Judiciary Chairman Rob Briley's arrest last weekend on charges
of drunken driving, evading police and vandalism appears likely to
stall the Nashville Democrat's steady rise through the legislative
ranks.
House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh, D-Covington, has said he will wait to
address Briley's status on the powerful Judiciary Committee until a
grand jury returns an indictment. Lawmakers indicted on felony charges
are required to step down from their leadership posts.
Naifeh criticized Republicans for calling for Briley's immediate
resignation, but acknowledged that Briley is now spending his second
stint in rehabilitation for alcohol addiction over the last year.
The powerful Judiciary Committee is not only slated to oversee a
proposed overhaul to Tennessee's drunken driving laws next year, but
is also responsible for deciding the fate of any other measures
related to the state's legal system.
Briley was arrested Saturday after a police chase that reached speeds
of 100 mph, according the arrest report. While police approached
Briley with guns drawn, he allegedly went back into the car to
retrieve a blue plastic cup to drain its contents. An empty whisky
bottle and prescription drugs were found in the car.
Briley was later charged with vandalism for kicking and punching the
back door and window of a police cruiser.
As a lawmaker, Briley has been known as much for his intelligence as
for his powder-keg temper. Naifeh called Briley "one of the most
brilliant legislators that I have served with in my 33 years in the
Legislature."
But Republicans, and some fellow Democrats, have been critical of
Briley for his sometimes strong-armed tactics and legislative
maneuvering.
This year Rep. Mike Turner, D-Old Hickory, saw his proposal to fine
cable and satellite companies up to $50,000 for airing ads for obscene
products like "Girls Gone Wild" videos die in a subcommittee of the
Judiciary Committee when no member supported a motion to debate the
bill's merits.
"This is probably the worst committee in the Legislature," Turner said
after the vote. "I think not letting it be heard is undemocratic and
I'm ashamed of what they did up there."
Briley was a key negotiator this year in an effort to pass legislation
to limit medical malpractice lawsuits. Senate Republican Leader Mark
Norris, of Collierville, often described the negotiations as tenuous
and dependent on Briley's mood.
Briley stormed out of an April Senate hearing and angrily told The
Associated Press that Norris was being untruthful and that the senator
had "choked" one element what he said had been an agreement on the
bill. Briley promised to kill the companion version in a subcommittee
of the his House committee.
"Norris thinks I'll blink," Briley said at the time. "But I'll pull
the trigger."
A rival version of the bill ultimately passed through the House
committee, but died on the House floor.
Naifeh earlier this week alluded to "pressures" that Briley has been
under, but declined to elaborate.
According to court records, Briley and his wife separated in December
2005. Pier Briley sued for divorce later the same month, citing
irreconcilable differences and "inappropriate marital conduct."
The couple suspended the divorce proceedings in February 2006 for an
attempt to reconcile the marriage. But by January 2007, Pier Briley
filed to set aside the reconciliation attempt, and in March filed an
amended complaint against her husband.
Since the 2005 divorce complaint, "Mr. Briley has been guilty of
additional inappropriate marital conduct," according to Pier Briley's
amended complaint this year.
The court records do not specify the alleged inappropriate conduct.
The Brileys have two children, ages 6 and 7.
His grandfather, Beverly, was the first mayor of the consolidated
metropolitan government of Nashville and Davidson County. His brother,
David Briley, is a councilman-at-large on the Metro Council who ran
unsuccessfully this year for mayor.
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