Gov. Abbott takes emergency action seeking removal of Texas Democrat Rep. Gene Wu [View all]

Source: CBS

AUSTIN, Texas — Gov. Greg Abbott took emergency action Tuesday in an effort to remove Democratic state Rep. Gene Wu from office, calling him the "ringleader" of lawmakers who fled the state to deny quorum during a special legislative session.

Abbott filed an emergency petition with the Texas Supreme Court requesting a "writ of quo warranto," which is used to determine if a person has the legal right to hold public office.

"If a small fraction of recalcitrant lawmakers choose to run out the clock today, they can do so for any, and every, Regular or Special Session, potentially bankrupting the State in an attempt to get their way," the petition said. "...The rarely used writ of quo warranto exists to solve rare problems such as this."

Abbott argues Wu and other absent Democrats have "abandoned their official duties" by refusing to attend the special session.

"Representative Wu and the other Texas House Democrats have shown a willful refusal to return, and their absence for an indefinite period of time deprives the House of the quorum needed to meet and conduct business on behalf of Texans," Abbott said.
The governor warned Sunday that if Democrats were not present when the House reconvened Monday at 3 p.m., he would seek their removal. The Democrats remained absent Tuesday.



Read more: https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/gov-abbott-takes-emergency-action-seeking-removal-of-texas-democrat-rep-gene-wu

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