Texas Attorney General Comments on Fleeing Democrats

Ken Paxton, the Republican Attorney General of Texas, expressed on Monday that he believes Democrats might avoid voting on the “final results” concerning specific issues, particularly around a new rezoning map, by leaving their districts. He pointed to reports indicating that some Democrats had relocated temporarily to blue states like Illinois to evade the voting process.

Paxton suggested that he supports the arrest of those lawmakers who left the state. When discussing how he views individual legislators, he commented, “The speaker sets the outcomes… they can bring about other outcomes as long as he is assigned to the committee.” However, he noted that such scenarios are rare.

The Attorney General described how a Republican governor often calls for special sessions since many of the fleeing lawmakers don’t want to remain in the state they’ve chosen to escape to. “We are exploring other options… If arrest isn’t feasible, we’ll consider bringing them back to work through legal means,” he stated.

In response to the departure of 51 Democrats, Paxton took to social media on Sunday, emphasizing his support for the “immediate arrest of these fraudulent lawmakers.” He criticized them harshly, saying they were neglecting their responsibilities and, in his view, should face legal consequences without hesitation.

By Monday, the Texas House of Representatives had moved to issue warrants for the lawmakers who left after failing to participate in the vote regarding the state legislature’s rezoning map.

Discussing the ongoing court hearings, a guest host from Fox Business remarked on their significance in specific districts that might not favor the Republican agenda. Paxton acknowledged that while they are in a democratic district, this is ultimately a state matter and he anticipates that the case will likely reach the Texas Supreme Court. He expressed confidence in the strong Republican groups adhering to the constitution and expected a fair outcome.

According to reports from the Texas Tribune, motions that pass through the state legislature do not incur civil or criminal charges, and warrants apply only within Texas.