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Gov. Greg Abbott is threatening to expel Democratic lawmakers who’ve fled Texas to cease Republicans from transferring forward with efforts to redraw the state’s congressional districts.
Most Democrats within the Texas Home of Representatives, who Abbott has accused of probably committing felonies, left the state on Sunday in order that the Home wouldn’t have sufficient votes for a quorum. With out a quorum, legislative proceedings can not transfer ahead. The lawmakers fled as Republicans have been making an attempt to go laws establishing new congressional districts within the state, which Republicans argue have been unfairly gerrymandered in favor of Democrats and have to be adjusted.
Abbott informed lawmakers in a letter despatched Sunday that if they don’t return by the point the home reconvenes at 4 p.m. ET he’ll “invoke Texas Lawyer Basic Opinion No. KP-0382 to take away the lacking Democrats from membership within the Texas Home.”
GOV. ABOTT CALLS OUT DEMOCRATS FOR ‘OUTRAGEOUS’ PROTESTS TO GOP-LED REDISTRICTING
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott recommended that those that have fled the state to stall Republicans’ agenda might doubtlessly face felony fees. (Brandon Bell/Getty Pictures)
“Along with abandoning their places of work, these legislators may have dedicated felonies,” Abbott added in his letter. “Many absentee Democrats are soliciting funds to evade the fines they may incur beneath Home guidelines.”
Earlier Monday, Abbott mentioned it could be thought-about bribery “if any lawmaker took cash to carry out or to refuse to carry out an act within the legislature.”
In response to Abbott’s threats, U.S. Home Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., described the governor’s actions as “all hat, no cattle,” noting that there was “no foundation to cost” the lawmakers.
“Gov. Abbott is making idle threats,” Jeffries insisted throughout an interview Monday with CNN.
TEXAS MAP FIGHT ESCALATES AS JEFFRIES VOWS ‘ALL OPTIONS’ TO STOP GOP PLAN
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries speaks throughout a information convention on the U.S. Capitol on Feb. 6, 2025. (Tierney L. Cross/Bloomberg through Getty Pictures)
Democrats nationwide have responded to the GOP redistricting efforts in Texas with threats to do the identical in Democratic-controlled states like New York and California.
Final week, Jeffries mentioned throughout a press convention that “all choices ought to be on the desk” amid the Texas redistricting battle.
In the meantime, Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom has mentioned California ought to “battle fireplace with fireplace” with regards to the GOP’s mid-decade redistricting efforts.
Democratic New York Gov. Kathy Hochul declared Monday that “the gloves are off,” including that she intends to discover “each possibility” to redraw her state’s congressional maps “as quickly as potential.”
Democratic Govs. Kathy Hochul of New York and Gavin Newsom of California vow to battle again in opposition to GOP redistricting efforts. (Getty Pictures)
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Congressional maps are sometimes redrawn as soon as each 10 years, following the completion of the U.S. Census, however presently Texas is making an attempt to re-draw their maps mid-decade with none new census information, or perhaps a court docket order. Nonetheless, Abbott has insisted that “there’s nothing unlawful” about what Republicans are attempting to do in Texas.
The brand new maps in Texas, which President Donald Trump helps, might doubtlessly assist Republicans within the U.S. Home of Representatives choose up 5 seats, the president mentioned final month. Trump’s Division of Justice beforehand despatched Aboott a letter in early July, alleging that some congressional districts in Texas may very well be thought-about racially gerrymandered and in violation of the Structure’s 14th Modification.
Fox Information Digital’s Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.
