Rep. Diana Harshbarger, a U.S. Congresswoman representing Tennessee’s 1st district since 2021, has used her social media platform to call for reforms and criticize criminal justice policies in the wake of a high-profile murder case.
On September 8, 2025, Harshbarger posted about a recent violent incident in North Carolina: “The video of a brutal murder of a young woman on a train in Charlotte, NC is horrific. The attacker? He’d been arrested 14 TIMES before committing this abhorrent act. The radical Left can’t possibly keep defending policies that put criminals back on the street.”
Continuing her commentary the following day, Harshbarger called for changes to public programs: “Transparency. Accountability. Patients First. It’s time for some much-needed reforms to restore integrity to this vital program.” (September 9, 2025).
Later that same day, she addressed media coverage of the crime and reiterated her criticism of current policies: “THIS is how the New York Times wants to frame this? You’re dang right it’s ignited a firestorm. It should ignite a firestorm in everyone! The brutal murder of Iryna Zarutska happened because of the radical Left’s soft-on-crime policies. And the mainstream media and democrats have” (September 9, 2025).
Diana Harshbarger was born in Kingsport, Tennessee in 1960 and continues to reside there at age 63. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from East Tennessee State University and succeeded Phil Roe as representative for Tennessee’s 1st district.
