Democrat Austin judge BLOCKS the arrest of the fugitive Texas Dems who want to return from DC after fleeing to stop the GOP's voting bill
A Democrat Texas judge has temporarily blocked the arrest of Texas House Democrats who fled the state to deny Republicans quorum on their voting reforms bills.
In the order, Travis County Judge Brad Urrutia banned Gov. Greg Abbott and House Speaker Dade Phelan from 'detaining, confining, or otherwise restricting a Texas House Democrat's movement without his or her consent,' as well as 'issuing any warrant or other instruments' that would lead to their confinement.
In the order, Travis County Judge Brad Urrutia, above, banned Gov. Greg Abbott and House Speaker Dade Phelan from 'detaining, confining, or otherwise restricting a Texas House Democrat's movement without his or her consent,'
Urrutia was re-elected on the Democratic ticket in 2020.
The order paves the way for Democrats to return to the Lonestar State without any threat of ending up in handcuffs.
A hearing on the matter is scheduled for later this month, and Urrutia's restraining order will expire in two weeks if it is not renewed, according to the Austin American-Statesman.
Nineteen of the House lawmakers filed a complaint arguing their arrest would rely on a misrepresentation of the House constitution and would 'government power to arrest its political opponents.'
Originally 22 Democrats had been named in the suit, but at least three of the plaintiffs later asked for their names to be removed, saying they had not agreed to be included.
With great fanfare, 58 Texas House Democrats hopped on private jets chartered at $100,000 in July and flew to Washington, D.C. to draw attention to their cause and deny the passing of a voting bill they say is overly restrictive.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, above, promised to have fleeing lawmakers arrested and compelled to attend a special legislative session to vote on election security once they returned to the state
GOP Gov. Greg Abbott then vowed to have the lawmakers arrested upon their return, and the remainder of the House voted to authorize law enforcement to track down the absent members and issue arrest warrants if needed to compel their attendance to the legislature's special session so that the voting bill could be passed.
Democrats filed suit, naming Abbott and Phelan as defendants, said they had been 'deprived of liberty for substantial periods of time, [and] suffered much anxiety and distress over the separation from their families.'
Texas Democrats who fled the state filed suit against Gov. Greg Abbott and Speaker Dade Phelan, saying they had suffered 'much discomfort and embarrassment' because their reputations have been 'impaired' after the governor threatened them with arrest
They also said they had suffered 'much discomfort and embarrassment' because their reputations have been 'impaired'.
In the suit, the Democrats further allege that they 'have lost much time from their homes and the companionship and care of their families and have been required to spend substantial sums of money'.
The Texas House and Senate began a second special legislative session of the year on Saturday as a number of Democrats who fled began to return to the state. Still, the House lacked the quorum needed to take action.
During the weekend's proceedings, Republicans did not authorized the arrest of Democrats to force them to return to work but instead adjourned until Monday at 4pm.
At least 26 Democrats have vowed to remain in Washington and ramp up pressure for Congress to enact federal voting legislation, but that number is well below the 51 needed to deny quorum.
Republicans are seeking to pass two new 'election integrity' bills, whereby voting would be allowed on election days from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. and mail voters would also be asked to verify their identities with a state ID number or the last four digits of their Social Security number.
The fleeing lawmakers received a warm welcome from members of their party in Washington, and met with high-powered lawmakers to discuss voting rights legislation and even Vice President Kamala Harris herself. At least three of them tested positive for Covid-19 after jet-setting maskless to the nation's capital, and Harris subsequently tested negative.
The Democrats left Austin to avoid the vote on two election bills, touching down in Washington D.C. in two private jets, which were chartered at $100,000
The group was also seen on board a bus without a face mask in sight
No comments: