Texas Governor Greg Abbott is warning that the House Democrats who fled the state yesterday in order to block a vote on the new congressional map could face felony charges.
This isn’t the first time Democrats have pulled a stunt like this to break quorum. Texas already has a law in place that could lead to fines of $500 per day and/or jail-time for lawmakers who skip out on a vote.
However, Democrats are soliciting donations through fundraisers to pay these fines.
Now, Gov. Abbot says that could count as bribery — a second-degree felony in the state of Texas.
Watch what he had to tell Dana Perino of Fox News:
🚨BREAKING: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott says Democrats who fled the vote on the new U.S. House map are facing second-degree felony charges.
pic.twitter.com/pfaX34O7TX— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) August 4, 2025
For those who prefer to read, here’s a transcript:
Dana Perino: You said in your statement that you put out today to all of them—in a letter to them—you said, “In addition to abandoning their offices, these legislators may also have committed felonies.” What is the felony? What are the penalties for this?
Greg Abbott: So, very simply, it would be bribery if any lawmaker took money to perform—or to refuse to perform—an act in the legislature. And the reports are these legislators have been both… they sought money, and they offered money to skip the vote, to leave the legislature, to take a legislative act. That would be bribery. And so, the facts will have to come out. But I think, based upon comments made by legislators themselves, they face a possibility of facing bribery charges, which is a second-degree felony in the state of Texas.
There’s one way to cure that, and that is: if they get back to the state of Texas and make quorum today at a hearing that we have at three o’clock, they can cure themselves of any quid pro quo that would subject them to potential bribery charges.
In a letter, Gregg Abbott gave the House Democrats who fled the state an ultimatum: return to the Capitol by 3 PM on Monday or forfeit your seat.
He also warned that they may have committed felonies.
Breitbart reported:
Abbott further warned that Texas Democrats may have committed felonies in addition to forfeiting their offices.
ADVERTISEMENT“Many absentee Democrats are soliciting funds to evade the fines they will incur under House rules,” the governor indicated. “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.” He added that any person who provides such funds could also be guilty of bribery.
Gov. Abbott also noted in a reply on X:
It seems to me that the only way some of the fleeing Democrats can avoid bribery charges is to not break quorum.
It seems that would eliminate any potential quid pro quo connected to any payment they received to deny a quorum and skip a vote. https://t.co/eyTbgybLvW
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) August 4, 2025
Not only are Democrats preventing a vote on redistricting, but they are delaying much-needed relief to flood victims by preventing the session.
The consequences of their selfishness could be dire.
Gov. Abbott shared another clip from his Fox News interview:
Texans don’t run from a fight—they face it head on.
These Texas Democrats that fled the state are not serving Texans. They are serving themselves.
They forfeited their seats and are facing potential felony charges. pic.twitter.com/Pe3d50WyVX
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) August 4, 2025
Hold them all accountable, Gov. Abbott!
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