Governor Greg Abbott issued a devastating ultimatum to fleeing Democrats, declaring “This truancy ends now. The derelict Democrat House members must return to Texas and be in attendance when the House reconvenes at 3:00 PM on Monday, August 4, 2025. For any member who fails to do so, I will invoke Texas Attorney General Opinion No. KP-0382 to remove the missing Democrats from membership in the Texas House.”
Abbott dropped the legal hammer on Democrats’ fundraising efforts to cover their $500-a-day fines, stating “Any Democrat who ‘solicits, accepts, or agrees to accept’ such funds to assist in the violation of legislative duties or for purposes of skipping a vote may have violated bribery laws. See TEX. PENAL CODE § 36.02.” The governor warned that donors could also face charges, declaring “I will use my full extradition authority to demand the return to Texas of any potential out-of-state felons.”
