BREAKING: Arrest Warrant Issued for Texas Dem Lawmaker Who Fled State

OPINION | This article contains commentary that reflects the author's opinion.

A civil warrant has been issued for the arrest of Democratic Texas State Rep. Philip Cortez.

After Cortez returned to Austin from Washington, D.C., Republican Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives, Dade Phelan, signed a civil warrant for Cortez’s arrest.

Cortez and other Texas Democrats flew to D.C. in order to break the quorum in the House and stop the Texas GOP from passing voting bills.

Phelan wrote, “To the Sergeant-at-Arms of the House of Representatives of the State of Texas, or any officer appointed by him: you are hereby commanded to take The Honorable Philip Cortez, a Member of the House of Representatives of the State of Texas, who is now absent from the House, wherever said Member may be found in the State, into your custody and safekeeping and bring said Member before the bar of the House instanter, this writ being issued under a duly-adopted order of the House pursuant to Article III, Section 10, Texas Constitution, made in exercise of its lawful powers to compel the attendance of absent members in the manner provided under the House Rules of Procedure. Herein fail not, but make due return hereof to this House.”

Daily Wire explained further:

Cortez returned to Washington, D.C., on Sunday; he “returned to Austin from Washington in what he said was an attempt to engage in ‘good faith dialogue’ about House Bill 3, the election legislation,” The Texas Tribune reported, adding, “Other Democrats criticized Cortez’s move, saying the lawmaker did not first consult with them before returning to Austin.”

“Rep. Cortez returned to the Texas Capitol of his own volition and represented to me and his fellow members that he wanted to work on policy and find solutions to bring his colleagues back to Texas,” Phelan said, as KVUE reported. “As a condition of being granted permission to temporarily leave the House floor, Rep. Cortez promised his House colleagues that he would return. Instead, he fled the state and has irrevocably broken my trust and the trust of this chamber.”


TRENDING 👇 Trump Deal Massive Blow to Bush Family

Former President Donald Trump has officially endorsed Ken Paxton over George P. Bush in the state’s Republican attorney general primary.

Trump said Paxton is a “true Texan who will keep Texas safe” and praised the attorney general for his stances on crime, guns, border security and “election integrity.”

“Attorney General Ken Paxton has been bravely on the front line in the fight for Texas, and America, against the vicious and very dangerous Radical Left Democrats, and the foolish and unsuspecting RINOs that are destroying our Country,” Trump continued. “It is going to take a PATRIOT like Ken Paxton to advance America First policies in order to Make America Great Again,” Trump said.

This decision snubs the Bush family. George P. Bush is the son of Trump’s former GOP primary rival Jeb Bush. Jeb Bush was heavily critical of Trump and notoriously chose not to endorse Trump for president in 2016.