BREAKING: Ken Paxton files suit to vacate state House seats held by Dems who fled over redistricting vote

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit with the state’s Supreme Court in order to declare the seats held by 13 Democrat House lawmakers who fled the state amid a vote on a new congressional district map vacant. 

"The rogue Democrat legislators who fled the state have abandoned their duties, leaving their seats vacant. These cowards deliberately sabotaged the constitutional process and violated the oath they swore to uphold. Their out-of-state rebellion cannot go unchecked, and the business of Texas must go on. I have asked the Texas Supreme Court to declare what has been clear from the beginning: that the runaway members have officially vacated their offices in the Texas House," Paxton said in a statement.

The suit was in regards to 13 lawmakers who have not returned to the state: State Reps: Ron Reynolds, Vikki Goodwin, Gina Hinjosa, James Talarico, Lulu Flores, Mihaela Plesa, Suleman Lalani, Chris Turner, Ana-Maria Ramos, Jessica Gonzalez, John Bucy III, Gene Wu, and Christina Morales. 

"The State of Texas brings this original proceeding for writs of quo warranto," the suit states. "Respondents, thirteen members of the Texas House of Representatives, have fled from the State with the intent to, and for the admitted purpose of, interfering with the operation of the Legislature. Respondents have also willfully refused to return when the Legislature has been convened by the Governor and despite the Speaker of the House’s issuance of warrants for their arrest. Because Respondents have abandoned their offices as State Representatives, the Attorney General, on behalf of the State, seeks a declaration that those positions are vacant."

The suit stated that in fleeing the state, "a minority of one House of the Legislature has held hostage the entire 'legislative power’ of the State, denying to the People 'the power to make rules and determine public policy.'"

The suit concluded, "this Court should declare that Respondents have vacated their offices as State Representatives. In the alternative, this Court should conditionally issue the writs, stating that the writs declaring each office vacant will issue only if Respondents fail to return to Texas and resume their official duties within 48 hours of the issuance of this Court’s decision."

This comes as the Texas House failed to reach quorum on Friday afternoon, coming five seats shy. Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows announced during the session that those lawmakers who have fled the state will no longer be getting their paychecks electronically, but rather, have to go in person to pick them up. 

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