Knox County Commissioner Brandon Huckaby plans to call for a hearing to decide whether to remove from office a public official who police say punched a protestor outside an event Oct. 10 hosted by Heritage Hubs, a Knoxville-based far-right organization.
Huckaby will ask the county commission at its meeting Oct. 28 to initiate the process that could remove Robert "Alex" Moody from the board of zoning appeals. The commission has the power under state law and its own rules to remove members of the board of zoning appeals “for cause upon written charges and after a public hearing."
Huckaby, who represents Cedar Bluff and nearby neighborhoods, accused Moody of "unjustified physical violence against a member of the public" in the resolution he shared
with Knox News.
"This conduct constitutes cause for removal because unjustified physical violence against a member of the public demonstrates a serious failure of judgment and self-restraint relevant to continued service on a county board that hears and resolves disputes involving members of the public," the resolution says.
Heritage Hubs held the event Oct. 10 to bring together members and allies who support establishing a "permanent infrastructure for community, culture and civic life" and a spot for young conservatives to "scale culture." The event included an appearance by Greg Bovino, the former Border Patrol "commander-at-large" who was relieved of his command in January 2026 after federal agents shot and killed two people during a prolonged immigration enforcement effort centered in Minneapolis.
A small group of protesters gathered outside the event at Jackson Terminal at the edge of the Old City. One of the protesters, William Wilson, said he approached a table near the venue's entrance to express his disapproval of the event. Wilson and witnesses told police, who confirmed their accounts with video, that Moody suddenly knocked Wilson's cell phone out of his hand and punched him in the face.
Heritage Hubs is affiliated with the Tennessee Heritage Association, which is focused on restricting and reversing immigration and has posted and shared white nationalist materials online.
Huckaby said he's calling for a hearing to remove Moody because of his conduct, not his beliefs. "The asserted ground is the alleged conduct itself – not the existence of a criminal citation, Mr. Moody’s attendance at the event, the viewpoints expressed at the event, or Mr. Wilson’s political views."
Moody did not respond to questions sent to the phone number listed as his on a police report.
It's too late for Huckaby to automatically add the request to the Oct. 28 meeting agenda, so seven commissioners must agree to initiate the discussion. If that doesn't happen in October, Huckaby told Knox News he would pursue the resolution again in November.
Moody's appointment to the board was supported by South Knox County Commissioner Andy Fox, who spoke at the Heritage Hubs event. Commissioner Justin Cofer, who represents the entire county as an at-large commissioner, also attended the Heritage Hubs event. The commission approved Moody's appointment, and it can vote to remove him after a hearing.
County rules and state law say the commission can remove a board of zoning appeals member “for cause upon written charges and after a public hearing."
Huckaby is asking the commission to:
- Look into adopting the charges against Moody
- Schedule a hearing with Moody
- Determine whether the charges are grounds for his removal from the board
- Remove Moody if the commission finds the charges justify removal
"(The charges) do not ask the commission to treat a police citation or news reports as proof, or to presume that the alleged conduct occurred without legal justification," Huckaby said. "Officials clearly cannot be assaulting their constituents, and Mr. Moody deserves his chance to explain any justification."
Huckaby is requesting evidence for the commission to examine, including:
- Records confirming Moody's identity and board of zoning appeals position
- The police citation and available reports
- A firsthand account of the incident from Wilson
- Moody's account and evidence potentially supporting self-defense
- Video, photographs or audio of the encounter
- Accounts from witnesses
- Any correction, clarification or additional evidence pertaining to the allegations
Wilson told Knox News that Moody appeared to be working the door as an organizer of the Heritage Hubs event
Huckaby told Knox News he arrived at the event, which drew protestors, minutes after Moody punched Wilson and stayed outside the event until it was almost over.
Allie Feinberg is the politics reporter for Knox News. Email: allie.feinberg@knoxnews.com; Reddit: u/KnoxNewsAllie
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Commissioner wants to boot official charged with punching protester | Exclusive
