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A judge in Travis County, Texas has temporarily blocked arrests of Democratic lawmakers who fled the state to prevent the passage of an election reform bill, the American statesman from Austin reported Monday.
District Judge Brad Urrutia signed the temporary restraining order on Sunday, blocking attempts by Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) and State House Speaker Dade Phelan (R) to restrict, detain or confine the lawmakers, paving the way for their safe return to the state.
The decision was requested by 22 members of the State House on Friday, the American-Stateman reported..
The ordinance applies to the state The Sergeant-at-Arms, Texas Department of Public Safety (TDPS), Capitol Police and other law enforcement agencies.
“Angry Republican threats to send soldiers to arrest, handcuff, shackle, drag and house duly elected lawmakers are not only meant to dampen our rhetoric and undermine our ability to represent our districts; this has left our families, friends and neighbors concerned for our well-being and safety, ”State Representative Gina Hinojosa (R) said in a written statement.
Texas Democrats are seeing a denial of Republicans a legislative quorum to prevent passage of a GOP-backed elections bill that critics say amounts to voter suppression.
A civil arrest warrant was issued for Representative Philip Cortez (D), but he returned to the state to work with his counterparts on changes to the election bill, the Austin newspaper reported.
Twenty-six of the lawmakers said they plan to stay in Washington in order to push for federal voting rights measures, the Austin newspaper noted.
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