‘Mattress bugs’ creep into a part of Tennessee’s legislative workplace constructing

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) – Bed bugs forced several floors of Tennessee legislative offices to be evacuated Thursday.

This means dozens of people, including the legislature, will not be allowed to return until their offices have been treated for the insects.

“Yesterday we were told that something was going on on the fifth floor,” said Kingsport State Representative John Crawford as he and his wife left the Cordell Hull Building, which housed legislative offices.

“Honestly, it’s just another part of 2020,” said House Democrats spokesman Ken Jobe.

“We found out that it was an insect problem. We don’t know exactly what it was, but it’s really good to take extra precautions to make sure we’re well protected, ”added Rep. Crawford.

The legislative administration’s first report said a lawmaker may have been exposed to bed bugs in a private facility outside Capitol Hill before unknowingly taking the tiny insects to any of the legislative offices.

As a precaution, three floors were evacuated.

Legislators and employees prepared their offices in such a way that the space for the mistakes could be dealt with.

“We were asked to take all the cloth items and papers, put them away, and be ready to return after Thanksgiving,” added Jobe.

In the early afternoon, extermination vehicles stopped next to the Legislative Office building for up to ten working days.

Only then will dozens of legislators and employees be allowed to re-enter the building.