Texas House Speaker orders arrest of absent Democrats
The Texas Supreme Court on Tuesday (August 10) blocked a rule protecting the lawmakers from arrest after they went to Washington, the Washington Post reported. The Democrats left to avoid the quorum required to approve the measures, as state Republicans attempt to pass it.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican, has vowed to arrest more than 50 Democratic lawmakers who left the state on July 12.
On Sunday, Texas District Judge Brad Urrutia issued a temporary restraining order in a case filed by 19 Texas House Democrats against Abbott, challenging the state's power to arrest them for political purposes, the Washington Post reported.
Some of the Democrats reportedly returned for Tuesday's session. Speaking to local media, Democratic State Representative Mary Gonzalez said the impact of the COVID pandemic on communities had prompted some of them to return. State Representative Art Fierro, another Democrat, denied there was friction among members of the caucus.
Texas is among several Republican-led states pursuing new voting restrictions in the name of enhancing election security. Former President Donald Trump has claimed falsely that the presidential election last November was stolen from him through widespread fraud.
