Sen. Ken Yager, R-Kingston, speaks from the Senate floor during a legislative session Monday, April 22, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

After Tennessee state Sen. Ken Yager (R-Kingston) was arrested and charged with a DUI last week, the state party’s response has left questions unanswered regarding his future.

Tennessee Lt. Gov. Randy McNally (R), who serves as the speaker of the Tennessee State Senate, issued an email response to Heartland Signal on Monday. The response did not directly answer whether Yager will step down in his role as Republican caucus chair or if he will receive consequences for his actions last week.

“It is my understanding that Senator Yager is cooperating fully with the authorities in Georgia in this matter. My thoughts and prayers are with he and his family as he does so,” McNally said.

Last Tuesday, Yager was arrested in Georgia after apparently committing a hit and run and failing a sobriety test after getting pulled over. Yager also reportedly soiled himself, according to incident report notes obtained by The Tennessean and video posted by New Channel 5 Nashville.

According to the Tennessee Senate rules, an elected or appointed leader is automatically suspended if they are under criminal indictment and have not requested a hearing in front of the Committee on Ethics. This suspension would last while the indictment is being pursued. The committee would make their determination based on the nature of the offense and whether it involved the “moral turpitude” of the senator.

After the arrest, Yager’s office released the following statement:

“An unfortunate incident happened last night, On the advice of my attorney, I cannot discuss the particulars at this time. I am and will continue to cooperate fully with the authorities to bring this incident to an appropriate conclusion,” Yager said.

The offices of Yager and Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson did not respond to Heartland Signal’s requests to comment on Yager’s future in the Senate.

The 77-year-old Yager and 80-year-old McNally were both reelected to their respective leadership roles on Nov. 14. Yager was unanimously reelected to a fourth term as caucus chair.

“I am honored to be unanimously re-elected Republican Caucus Chairman,” Yager said in a statement. “Thank you to all the members of the Republican Caucus for putting their full-fledged faith in me to fulfill this duty. Additionally, thank you to all my family and friends that have supported me along this journey.”

Yager also vowed to fight every day for “our shared conservative values.”

Yager has served in the Tennessee Senate since 2009 and he is currently a member of several committees, including Commerce and Labor, Fiscal Review, State and Local Government and Ways and Means.