Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has signaled he supports the “immediate” arrest of the Texas Democrats who fled the state in order to halt a vote on a GOP redistricting plan.
Earlier on Sunday, more than 51 Texas Democratic lawmakers flew to Chicago in order to break quorum, all but derailing a vote set for Monday on a new congressional map that includes five redrawn districts designed to favor Republicans. The Democrats’ mass exodus was reportedly brokered by Gov. JB Pritzker (D-IL), who has instructed his staff to provide any logistical assistance to the state lawmakers, at least some of whom will be staying for all of this week.
Paxton, however, is backing the arrests of the lawmakers in order to push the redistricting plan across the finish line.
“Democrats in the Texas House who try and run away like cowards should be found, arrested, and brought back to the Capitol immediately. We should use every tool at our disposal to hunt down those who think they are above the law,” he posted on X.
That threat follows Paxton’s comments from last week on Steve Bannon’s War Room podcast, in which he acknowledged the limitations of such arrests.
“The House rules and the Senate rules both allow for these people to be arrested if they leave. … The challenge is, if they go out of state, we lose jurisdiction, and that — it’s been a challenge in the past,” the top Texas prosecutor said.
The Texas Democrats, however, may be compelled to return regardless.
Besides the threat of arrests, each lawmaker faces a $500-a-day fine for breaking quorum, as well as potential legal action. Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) can also continuously call for 30-day special legislative sessions in the event the state Democrats run out the clock on the current one, which is set to end on Aug. 19.
The vote on the redistricting effort is set for 3 p.m. on Monday, and state House Speaker Dustin Burrows has said “all options” are on the table if Democrats fail to return to the State Capitol in Austin.
TEXAS DEMOCRATS LEAVE STATE IN EFFORT TO HALT GOP REDISTRICTING PLAN
Paxton, in reposting Burrow’s comment, said, “These radical Democrats are spitting in the face of every Texan they swore to represent. This is cowardice and dereliction of duty, and they should face the full force of the law without apology.”
“I support the immediate arrest of these rogue lawmakers who’ve fled their duties,” he added.
