Tennessee GOP Speaker declares the capitol closed because of coronavirus — but Republican Senate candidate is allowed inside
Protesters at the Tennessee Capitol (screengrab)

On Monday Speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives Cameron Sexton and Tennessee state troopers announced to a crowd of protesters that he was shutting down the state capitol, as a safety precaution due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

But even as Sexton made this announcement, several guests continued to linger inside — including U.S. Senate candidate Bill Hagerty.