After the Democrats’ departure, Gov. Greg Abbott went as far as signing arrest warrants for the absent lawmakers—and when several of the Democratic legislators returned on Monday to Austin, the state capital, they were immediately met with GOP retaliation. On Monday, Republican House Speaker Dustin Burrows ordered that the returning lawmakers could only leave the House floor with written permission and a 24-hour police escort until the House reconvened on Wednesday.
While many of her colleagues agreed to these terms, Democratic state Rep. Nicole Collier stood her ground. State Reps. Gene Wu and Vince Perez, who reportedly signed the agreement, joined Collier in her protest. She’s now suing the state legislature for unlawful imprisonment.
“If you leave the Capitol,” House Administration Committee Chair Charlie Geren told Collier, according to the lawsuit, “you are subject to arrest.”
On Monday night, state Reps. Collier, Wu, and Perez, who were among the returning Democrats, slept propped up on leather swivel chairs on the state House floor.
Isn’t this, like, kidnapping?
According to some comments I read this isn’t kidnapping because the representatives are not private citizens, they are public citizens and belong to the state of Texas which can force them to do their job. That sure sounds familiar.
It’s actually because of a pre-existing law dating from the last time members fled the state to prevent quorum.
I keep hoping I’ll click an article that explains authoritatively how this is not kidnapping rather than relying on speculation, but so far it hasn’t happened. I would think it’s the very first question every single person has.
I will now click this link to find out if this wonkabar will have the golden ticket. 😁
Edit: OK, despite the complete lack of any and all uproar from anyone at all as far as I can tell, it’s not actually going unnoticed.
While many of her colleagues agreed to these terms, Democratic state Rep. Nicole Collier stood her ground. State Reps. Gene Wu and Vince Perez, who reportedly signed the agreement, joined Collier in her protest. She’s now suing the state legislature for unlawful imprisonment.
“If you leave the Capitol,” House Administration Committee Chair Charlie Geren told Collier, according to the lawsuit, “you are subject to arrest.”
Yes
only if you get a conviction
I finally found an article that explains what really happened.
