Dem Lawmakers Who Fled Texas Sue Gov. Abbott, Claim He Is Violating Civil Rights by Making Them Go Back To Work

Twenty-two Texas Democrats who fled the state rather than face a special legislative session say they are certain their civil rights were violated when Texas officials tried to force them to do their jobs.

The wide-ranging lawsuit, filed Friday in federal court in Austin, claims that Gov. 👤Greg Abbott and other Texas officials violated the rights of Democratic lawmakers when they called for the arrest of members who returned to the state as a means to force them to enter the state House chambers.

To date, one warrant has been issued.

Democrats left rather than face an election integrity bill they oppose. By leaving the state, they denied the state the ability to summon them to a session. Their absence prevents any legislation from moving forward because there is no quorum, according to the Texas Tribune.

The suit says Democrats who have been living in four-star hotels in Washington, D.C., were “deprived of liberty for substantial periods of time, suffered much anxiety and distress over separation from their families, and much discomfort and embarrassment.”

Two members of the group reportedly took a vacation in Portugal during the tine covered by the special session, which ended last week as a new one began.