Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is asking an Illinois court to honor arrest warrants for the more than 50 Democrats who fled the state. The move comes as Texas Republicans try to get a 100-person quorum in the House of Representatives so they can vote on a newly drawn congressional map.
Paxton argued in a court briefing that Illinois has a duty to respect the civil warrants under the full faith and credit clause of the U.S. Constitution, which states – “Full Faith and Credit shall be given in each State of the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other State.”
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The suit was filed in Illinois’ Eighth Judicial Circuit Court in Adams County.
The investigation
Paxton is also launching investigations into two progressive political groups he believes are funding the Democrats’ stay in Illinois, which he claims could amount to bribery.
Paxton is targeting the Texas Majority PAC, a political action committee that receives substantial donations from George Soros, and Powered by People, which was founded by Democrat Beto O’Rourke, who served in Congress and ran for U.S. Senate and governor.
Paxton issued a “Request to Examine,” which demands that the groups hand over communications and other documents regarding the Democrats’ quorum break.
Paxton claims the lawmakers and the political groups may have broken state laws in addition to bribery, including campaign finance, coercion of a public servant and abuse of office.
“Getting financial payouts under the table to abandon your legislative duties is bribery,” Paxton said in a statement.
What started it?
The investigations appear to have been prompted by a report in the Texas Tribune that stated Powered by People is funding travel, and the Texas Majority PAC is playing a coordinating role.
In a statement to the Tribune, O’Rourke encouraged people to donate to Powered by People.
“The guy impeached for bribery is going after the folks trying to stop the theft of five Congressional seats,” O’Rourke stated. “Let’s stop these thugs before they steal our country.”
The Texas Majority PAC called Paxton’s investigation a sham.
“Ken Paxton — who was impeached for bribery — and Greg Abbott have bent the knee to D.C. and failed the people of Texas,” the organization told the Tribune.
If Paxton wins the court case and the Democrats are arrested, they would be brought back to the state capitol in Austin and compelled to participate in the legislative session. Republicans have the numbers to approve the map against Democrats’ wishes, but they need the 100-person quorum for the vote to be valid.
