Texas Gov. Greg Abbott Sues To Remove State House Democratic Caucus Chair In Redistricting Standoff

Gov. Greg Abbott revenge an emergency petition Tuesday pinch nan Texas Supreme Court to region authorities Rep. Gene Wu from agency aft Wu and different Democrats near nan authorities to hold Republican efforts to redraw legislature territory lines.

The lawsuit from Abbott, a Republican, argues that Wu, nan Texas House Democratic Caucus chair, violated nan authorities Constitution and that his absence amounted to abandoning office.

With their absence, Democratic lawmakers person denied Republicans nan legislative quorum needed to move guardant pinch plans to redraw legislature boundaries and springiness nan GOP 5 much House seats successful Congress.

The suit argues that quorum provisions make attendance successful nan authorities House “an affirmative law obligation.”

“Representative Wu has openly renounced these law mandates by fleeing nan State of Texas to break quorum, obstruct legislative proceedings, and paralyze nan Texas House of Representatives,” nan suit says.

“Absconding from nan State during a constitutionally mandated session, not for lawful cause, but for nan very intent of subverting nan Legislature’s expertise to function, constitutes a flagrant usurpation of Wu’s oath and is an intentional abandonment of his law duty,” it adds.

Wu did not instantly respond to a petition for remark Tuesday evening.

Wu said connected social media Sunday from Illinois that he was "On nan crushed successful Chicago… Fighting for nan authorities of Texans and each Americans."

Abbott said successful a connection that Wu and much than 50 different Democrats who near nan authorities had grounded to meet quorum requirements successful refusing to return.

“Texas House Democrats abandoned their work to Texans, and location must beryllium consequences,” Abbott said.

He had warned successful a connection Sunday that he would activity Democrats’ removal if they weren’t coming erstwhile nan House convened nan adjacent day. During nan Democratic lawmakers' absence Monday, he ordered nan authorities Department of Public Safety to apprehension them aft a ballot by nan House to compel nan sergeant-at-arms to “send for” nan return of nan lawmakers “under warrant of arrest, if necessary.”

Asked whether nan FBI and nan national authorities should get progressive successful locating and arresting nan lawmakers, President Donald Trump told reporters earlier Tuesday that they "may person to."

“A batch of group person demanded they travel back. You can’t conscionable beryllium it out. You person to spell back. You person to conflict it out. That’s what elections are each about,” he said.