Runaway Texas Democrats file lawsuit against Gov. Greg Abbott for 'damaging their reputations' and c

[mystery-ak]

Runaway Texas Democrats file lawsuit against Gov. Greg Abbott for 'damaging their reputations' and causing them 'anxiety, discomfort and distress' after he threatened to arrest them upon their return to the state

    *More than 50 Texas Democrats fled the state on July 12 to block Republican voting reform bills
    *Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has blasted the leftwing lawmakers and threatened to arrest them when they return to the state
    *On Friday, 22 of the Democrats filed a suit against Abbott and two other Republican officials

By Andrew Court For Dailymail.com

Published: 10:50 EDT, 7 August 2021 | Updated: 11:44 EDT, 7 August 2021

Almost two dozen Texas Democrats who fled to Washington, D.C. last month in order to block two 'restrictive' voting reform bills proposed by Republicans have now filed a lawsuit against Gov. Greg Abbott.

Abbott  - who is Republican - threatened to arrest the lawmakers when they eventually return to the Lone Star state after they packed onto private jets and flew to the nation's capitol on July 12.

On Friday, 22 of the Democrats filed a complaint in federal court in Austin claiming that Republican attempts to bring them home for a special legislative session is a violation of their rights.

more
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9872097/Runaway-Texas-Democrats-file-lawsuit-against-Gov-Greg-Abbott-damaging-reputations.html

[Elderberry]

Democrats who fled Texas sue Gov. Greg Abbott, Speaker Dade Phelan, saying efforts to force their return violate their civil rights

Texas Tribune by James Barragán Aug. 6, 2021

https://www.texastribune.org/2021/08/06/texas-house-democrats-lawsuit-greg-abbott-dade-phelan/

After Democrats absconded to Washington D.C., GOP leaders threatened to have them arrested on civil warrants and brought back to the Capitol. Twenty-two Democrats are suing state officials, but their suit does not provide specific details about several allegations.

Twenty-two Texas House Democrats sued some of the state's top Republican leaders in federal court in Austin late Friday, alleging that GOP officials' efforts to bring them home for a special legislative session infringed on their constitutional rights to free speech and to petition the government for redress of grievances.

The lawsuit was filed on the final day of the first special session called by Gov. Greg Abbott — and on the eve of a second specially called legislative session — and names as defendants Abbott, House Speaker Dade Phelan and State Rep. James White.

Abbott has called for the arrest of the more than 50 House Democrats who fled the state last month for Washington, D.C., to block the passage of an elections bill they said would restrict voting rights in the state. Their departure left the House without a quorum, the number of present members needed to pass bills, stalling the chamber's operations. Phelan put the chamber under a "call" in an effort to regain quorum and signed a civil warrant for Rep. Philip Cortez, D-San Antonio, after he returned to the Texas House only to depart for the nation's capital again a few days later.

It's unclear why White was listed as a defendant. White said Friday night he was not aware he'd been sued or why he was named as a defendant. The lawsuit also did not use Phelan's legal name, which is Matthew McDade Phelan.

Abbott and Phelan did not immediately have a statement on the lawsuit.


Reference
The lawsuit filed by 22 Texas House Democrats.
(404.8 KB) DOWNLOAD

[Elderberry]

New Democrat Lawsuit is Latest Wrinkle in Legislative Saga

Texas Scorecard by Jeramy Kitchen August 7, 2021

https://texasscorecard.com/state/new-democrat-lawsuit-is-latest-wrinkle-in-legislative-saga/

Of the listed plaintiffs, two (Thompson and Collier) serve as a chairman of current House committees. Additionally, six (Thompson, Allen, Morales, Gervin-Hawkins, Thierry, and Hinojosa) serve as vice chairman of House committees.

The lawsuit claims that some Democrat lawmakers were being targeted because of their skin color and race, but it provides no evidence for such a charge. It goes on to claim that certain Republican lawmakers colluded to cause harm “by public statements and otherwise, to attempt to deny, coerce, threaten, intimidate, and prevent” both the Democrat lawmakers and their constituents from voting in elections, petitioning their government for redress of grievances, using their right of association, publicly speaking about their constitutional rights, and using their right of not being arrested without probable cause.

The lawsuit has been identified as littered with shoddy mistakes. For example, it lists Crockett as a resident of Travis County, even though she currently represents a portion of Dallas County. It incorrectly spells Abbott’s last name as “Abbot” and does not use Phelan’s legal name of Matthew McDade Phelan.

The attorney listed on the suit is Craig Anthony Washington, a former Democrat lawmaker. According to the State Bar of Texas, Washington is practicing law under a probationary suspended license.

[catfish1957]

New Democrat Lawsuit is Latest Wrinkle in Legislative Saga

Texas Scorecard by Jeramy Kitchen August 7, 2021

https://texasscorecard.com/state/new-democrat-lawsuit-is-latest-wrinkle-in-legislative-saga/

Suing the boss because your reputation has been ruined by not showing up for work?

That's rich, and ought to be a Babylon Bee piece.

[IsailedawayfromFR]

These guys are super desperate to get out of the quicksand they find themselves in.

[libertybele]

These guys are super desperate to get out of the quicksand they find themselves in.

They are DEMS; they'll get away with it and be rewarded with some cash in their pockets.

[Fishrrman]

"Runaway Texas Democrats file lawsuit against Gov. Greg Abbott for 'damaging their reputations' and causing them 'anxiety, discomfort and distress' after he threatened to arrest them..."

This gives new meaning to the concept of chutzpah...

[mountaineer]

Skipping work and then filing a federal lawsuit blaming my boss. How did I never think of that?