Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has initiated a lawsuit in the Supreme Court of Texas, seeking judicial declarations that 13 Texas House seats have been vacated due to the ongoing unlawful absences of Democrat legislators who failed to meet the return deadline established by Speaker Dustin Burrows.
“The rogue Democrat legislators who fled the state have abandoned their responsibilities, leaving their seats unoccupied,” Paxton stated in a press release. “These individuals have intentionally undermined the constitutional process and breached the oath they pledged to uphold.
Their rebellion from out of state cannot be ignored, and the operations of Texas must continue. I have requested the Texas Supreme Court to affirm what has been evident from the outset: that the runaway members have officially vacated their positions in the Texas House,” he further remarked.
House Democrats continue to be absent from the state, participating in what Paxton described as politically motivated grandstanding from various locations. He asserted that their actions signify a “flagrant abandonment of office” and a “betrayal of the voters” who elected them.
The lawsuit centers on 13 members who publicly declared their refusal to return, which Paxton contends substantiates the grounds for the legal proceedings. Texas law empowers the Attorney General to represent the state in quo warranto actions and to appear before the Texas Supreme Court in matters pertaining to the state’s interests.
The petition articulates: “The Texas Constitution, statutes, and regulations offer a wide array of mechanisms for members of a legislative minority to express their voices. However, these mechanisms do not encompass a coordinated effort by minority members to obstruct the Legislature’s operations by neglecting their responsibilities, which includes rejecting the constitutional authority of the other members to mandate their attendance. When legislators ignore arrest warrants, decline to fulfill their obligations, and declare their intention to hinder the Legislature from executing its constitutional duties, they have, through both their statements and actions, shown a clear intention to forfeit and abandon their positions.”
Paxton and Burrows have also sought to enforce arrest warrants in other states. Furthermore, Paxton initiated an investigation into Powered by People and Texas Majority PAC regarding allegations that they may have engaged in an unlawful financial influence scheme aimed at bribing Democrats to violate quorum.
Texas Democrats are facing increasing pressure to return to the state as Republicans strive for a quorum to push forward significant legislative initiatives on Friday.
Numerous state Democrats departed Texas earlier this week to obstruct a special session agenda that includes redistricting voting maps in a manner that could potentially grant Republicans five additional House seats. The session is also scheduled to discuss funding for flood victims, as reported by CBS 12.
In an attempt to urge Democrats to return to Austin, Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows issued a memo to House members mandating that those who broke quorum must collect their paychecks in person. House leaders declared that direct deposits will be halted until a quorum is reinstated, indicating that a sufficient number of members must be present to conduct business.
On Thursday, the FBI consented to assist in capturing the Texas Democrats who fled to prevent the House from convening, according to a U.S. senator representing the state.
Over 50 Democratic lawmakers departed from Texas on Sunday, with many heading to Chicago, in an effort to prevent a scheduled vote on redistricting and to halt legislative activities during the special session. Their exit enabled them to evade possible arrest by state law enforcement.
U.S. Senator John Cornyn, a Republican from Texas, stated on Tuesday that he had requested FBI Director Kash Patel’s assistance in helping state and local law enforcement to find and apprehend the Democrats.
“I am pleased to announce that Director Kash Patel has granted my request for the FBI to aid state and local law enforcement in tracking down the runaway Texas House Democrats,” Cornyn remarked.
“I express my gratitude to President Trump and Director Patel for their support and prompt action in response to my appeal for the federal government to hold these alleged lawmakers accountable for abandoning Texas. We must not permit these defiant legislators to evade their constitutional duties,” he further stated.
