Texas Legal professional Normal Ken Paxton (R) is asking an Illinois courtroom to implement arrest warrants in opposition to Democrats who fled to the Prairie State over GOP efforts to redraw the Texas’s congressional maps.
On Monday, the Texas Home approved arrest warrants for Democratic state lawmakers that state troopers can find. Nevertheless, these warrants are solely enforceable inside Texas.
Paxton’s petition to Illinois’s Eighth Judicial Circuit Courtroom asks for the “enforcement of the rule of legislation in Illinois, the help of Illinois legislation enforcement officers, and this Courtroom’s help, to lawfully return to Texas the Respondent legislators who fled to Illinois to evade their duties to take part within the ongoing Particular Session of the Texas Legislature.”
The Democrats fled the state Sunday to disclaim the GOP a legislative quorum in an effort to stop the redrawing of Texas’s congressional maps. President Trump is aiming to pick up five seats there forward of the 2026 midterm elections.
Paxton’s request comes after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) mentioned earlier Thursday that the FBI is “tracking down” Democratic state lawmakers who fled.
“Texas DPS and the FBI are monitoring down the derelict Democrats. They are going to be taken on to the Texas Capitol,” Abbott wrote on the social platform X.
“Those that obtained advantages for skipping a vote face removing from workplace and potential bribery fees,” he continued. “In Texas, there are penalties to your actions.”
Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) additionally on Thursday said the FBI had permitted his request for them to assist legislation enforcement businesses observe down the Democrats.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) mentioned Sunday that his state would protect Texas Democrats who fled to his state.
“They’re right here in Illinois. We’re going to do every thing we are able to to guard each single certainly one of them and ensure that — ’trigger we all know they’re doing the best factor, we all know that they’re following the legislation,” Pritzker informed reporters at a press convention Sunday night time held alongside the Texas state lawmakers.
“It’s Ken Paxton who doesn’t comply with the legislation. It’s the leaders of Texas who’re making an attempt to not comply with the legislation,” he continued, calling out Texas’s Republican lawyer basic by identify. “They’re those that must be held accountable.”