LIVE COVERAGE: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) is threatening to remove Democrat lawmakers who fled the state in an effort to stop a vote on redistricting. Meanwhile, Attorney General Ken Paxton (R-TX) says those lawmakers could face possible felony charges. Follow our live coverage throughout the day and click here to get my daily breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox.
Texas Democrats Vow to Defy Governor’s Order
Abbott Warns Democrats Their Seats Could be Vacated
Gov. Abbott issued a statement warning that any lawmaker who is not in their seats by 3 p.m. Monday would face removal from office.
“Real Texans do not run from a fight. But that’s exactly what most of the Texas House Democrats just did,” the governor said. “Rather than doing their job and voting on urgent legislation affecting the lives of all Texans, they have fled Texas to deprive the House of the quorum necessary to meet and conduct business.”
“These absences are not merely unintended and unavoidable interruptions in public service, like a sudden
illness or a family emergency. Instead, these absences were premeditated for an illegitimate purpose—
what one representative called ‘breaking quorum,'” the governor said. “That amounts to an abandonment or forfeiture of an elected state office.”