Gov. Greg Abbott is asking the Texas Supreme Court to remove House Democratic Leader Rep. Gene Wu from office, accusing the Houston lawmaker of orchestrating an ongoing effort to paralyze the state Legislature by leading a coordinated quorum break in the Texas House.
In an filed Tuesday, Abbott argued that Wu 鈥渇orfeited his office鈥� by on a constitutionally mandated special session, calling Wu 鈥渢he ringleader of the derelict Democrats鈥� who fled the state. The governor is now asking the court to either remove Wu or let him move forward with a rare legal case to challenge Wu鈥檚 right to stay in office.
鈥淭hese members have abandoned their official duties required by the Constitution,鈥� Abbott said in the petition. 鈥淭his Court should make clear that a legislator who does not wish to perform his duties will be stripped of them.鈥�
The news came just hours after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said he would to declare the seats of absent House Democrats vacant, arguing they鈥檝e abandoned their duties 鈥� a move that could allow Abbott to appoint their replacements.
Wu is one of more than 50 House Democrats to prevent from coming to a vote. Without their presence, the House lacks the quorum required to conduct business.
Wu, who , has been one of the most vocal supporters of the walkout. In a statement on Tuesday evening, Wu accused Abbott of to create up to five new Republican-held congressional seats 鈥溾��
鈥淒enying the governor a quorum was not an abandonment of my office; it was a fulfillment of my oath,鈥� Wu said. 鈥淯nable to defend his corrupt agenda on its merits, Greg Abbott now desperately seeks to silence my dissent by removing a duly-elected official from office.鈥�
Abbott鈥檚 petition cites Wu鈥檚 public comments and social media posts, including where he called the redistricting process 鈥渃orrupt鈥� and vowed to stay away for the duration of the special session.
The filing also claims Wu solicited donations to fund the walkout, including a private jet flight to Chicago partly paid for by Beto O鈥橰ourke鈥檚 political action committee, according to the filing. Abbott also alleges O鈥橰ourke鈥檚 PAC pledged donations to Wu and other Texas Democrats 鈥� but only if they broke quorum. According to the , O鈥橰ourke鈥檚 political group is a top funder covering the costs of the walkout.
鈥淩epresentative government cannot function if elected officials may monetize their absence, abandon their obligations, and paralyze the Legislature without consequence,鈥� the petition states.
After landing in Illinois with fellow House Democrats on Sunday, Wu joined other local officials in criticizing Abbott and other Texas Republicans for advancing a congressional map that uses 鈥渞acial lines to divide hardworking communities who have spent decades building up their power and strengthening their voices.鈥�
The governor is urging the court to act before Thursday, arguing that the Legislature鈥檚 ability to pass legislation related to and depends on the quorum being restored. For now, the House is unable to debate or vote on legislation without a quorum 鈥� effectively stalling every bill filed during the session.
鈥淭his case is not a political dispute,鈥� the petition reads. 鈥淚t is a constitutional crisis.鈥�
Wu, however, says he鈥檚 not backing down.
鈥淭o Governor Abbott: You have failed the people of Texas, and you are using the courts to punish those who refused to fail with you,鈥� Wu said Tuesday evening. 鈥淢y purpose has been clear from the start: to serve my constituents and fight for what's right, no matter the cost. You will find that my commitment to the people of Texas is unbreakable.鈥�
