Videos start to pop up on social media showing Texas House sergeant-at-arms starts delivering arrest warrants to 52 Democrats who fled the state to stop GOP voting bill.
On Wednesday, the Texas House Sergeant-at-Arms began delivering civil arrest warrants around the Texas Capitol. According to a spokesperson for Phelan, Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan officially signed civil arrest warrants for 52 House Democrats who were still absent for the second special session of the year the day before.
It’s all part of the effort to reach the quorum required to move legislation forward.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Texas House voted 80-12 to proceed with the arrests after the Texas Supreme Court overturned a district judge’s ruling that barred them from ordering the arrests of Democrats.
House Democrats initially fled to Washington, D.C., during the first special session in July to break quorum and prevent GOP-backed voting legislation from passing, which they claim will make it more difficult for minorities and people with disabilities to vote.
House Republicans argue that the bill will make elections more secure and efficient across the state.
Democrats were able to prevent the legislation from being passed during the first special session, but Gov. Greg Abbott called for a second session, which began this weekend.
The civil arrest warrants are being delivered to the offices of House Democrats who are still breaking quorum, Maggie Glynn of KXAN News said.
KHOU 11 reporter tweeted a video and stated in the description that Sergeant at Arms had finished serving 52 arrest warrants at the missing Democrats’ offices.