Can Texas Gov. Greg Abbott remove lawmakers who left the state?
Can Texas Gov. Greg Abbott remove lawmakers who left the state?
Gov. Greg Abbott said he’s ordered the Texas DPS to “locate, arrest, and return to the House chamber any member who has abandoned their duty to Texans.”
Read the full article on CBS Politics
Truth Analysis
Analysis Summary:
The article is mostly accurate in reporting Governor Abbott's statements and actions regarding the Texas Democrats' quorum break. There's a slight bias due to the focus on Abbott's perspective and the framing of the situation. Minor claims lack specific verification, but the core information is supported by multiple sources.
Detailed Analysis:
- Claim: Gov. Greg Abbott ordered the Texas DPS to locate, arrest, and return to the House chamber any member who has abandoned their duty to Texans.
- Verification Source #1: Confirms Abbott's statement regarding the Democrats fleeing Texas and his intent to invoke Texas Attorney General Opinion No. KP-0382 to remove them.
- Verification Source #2: Confirms Abbott's threat to remove Democratic lawmakers if they don't return.
- Verification Source #5: Confirms Abbott's threat to remove Democratic lawmakers if they don't return.
- Assessment: Supported
- Claim: Texas Democrats left the state to prevent a quorum.
- Verification Source #1: States that the Democrats 'fled Texas'.
- Verification Source #3: States that the lawmaker had left the state to deny quorum.
- Verification Source #4: States that many of the legislators left the state and went to Illinois as well as Boston and New York.
- Assessment: Supported
Supporting Evidence/Contradictions:
- Source 1: '...fled Texas...'
- Source 3: '...lawmaker who had left the state to deny quorum...'
- Source 2: 'Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott says he will begin trying to remove Democratic lawmakers from office Monday if they don't return after...'