Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, in an ongoing conflict with Texas House Democrats who have departed the state, filed a lawsuit on Friday. The legal action aims to declare the seats of 13 lawmakers vacant.
Paxton, in a public post, announced the lawsuit, saying: “I’ve filed a historic lawsuit against Democrat runaways in SCOTX [the Texas Supreme Court] to secure an order declaring their seats vacant. These cowards deliberately sabotaged the constitutional process. Their out-of-state rebellion cannot go unchecked, and the business of Texas must go on.”
More than 50 House Democrats left the state on Monday in an attempt to impede the Republican-dominated Texas Legislature from redrawing congressional districts. The objective was to prevent an official vote from taking place.
Gov. Greg Abbott has issued threats of arrest to the absent Democrats. In response, Paxton has confirmed that his office will “seek judicial relief confirming that their office is vacant.”
“When members of the Legislature disregard arrest warrants, refuse to perform their duties, and announce that they intend to prevent the Legislature from exercising its constitutional responsibilities, they have, through words and conduct, demonstrated an intent to relinquish and abandon their offices,” the lawsuit stated. “The alternative would empower a minority faction to disrupt the operation of the chamber.”
The 13 lawmakers in question are state Reps. Ron Reynolds, Vikki Goodwin, Gina Hinojosa, James Talarico, Lulu Flores, Mihaela Plesa, Suleman Lalani, Chris Turner, Ana-Maria Ramos, Jessica Gonzalez, John Bucy III, Gene Wu, and Christina Morales.
Sen. John Cornyn, who is currently being challenged by Paxton in the Republican primary for his seat, wrote to FBI Director Kash Patel on Tuesday. The senator urged the agency to take “any appropriate steps” to assist law enforcement in locating or arresting the lawmakers who left the state. This action was taken to deny the state House a quorum and prevent it from conducting business.
