Attorney argues IL should honor TX warrants for absconding Dems

By Greg Bishop | The Center Square
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – An Illinois state senator acting as local counsel for the Texas Republicans wanting to have that state’s warrants for absconding Democrats recognized by Illinois says it’s a simple case.

Texas Statehouse Democrats arrived in Illinois Sunday and have held several news conferences and media appearances saying they are blocking a quorum in Texas where Republicans are looking to change congressional maps.

“The largest democracy in the world. And yet a Texas governor with bended knee to Donald Trump because he’s afraid to lose an election fair and square,” said Texas state Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, D-San Antonio, during a news conference Sunday, Aug. 2. “He would rig these maps to have politicians pick voters so that he cannot have to deal with a Congress that will provide oversight, accountability, and real checks and balances like our founders wanted us to.”

A lawsuit the Texas House of Representatives filed Thursday against the Texas Democrats in Adams County, Illinois, is being led by attorney Jil Tracy, a Republican Illinois state senator for Quincy.

“The Full Faith and Credit Clause is used all the time throughout all 50 states,” Tracy told The Center Square. “That’s a federal law saying that Illinois has to give credence to the Texas law.”

Tracy said they are aiming for a court date and she hopes the issue can be dealt with expeditiously.

“The Full Faith and Credit Clause just requires each state to observe the laws of another state as it affects their citizens,” Tracy said.

Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, issued arrest warrants pursuant to his authority under Article III, Section 10 of the Texas Constitution and Rule 5, Section 8, of the Rules of the Texas House. It states that when a call of the house is issued, which Burrows did on Monday, “[a]ll absentees for whom no sufficient excuse is made may, by order of a majority of those present, be sent for and arrested, wherever they may be found.”

As a Republican in the minority at the Illinois Statehouse, Tracy said Republicans didn’t flee the state in 2021 to avoid voting for the Illinois Democrats’ map. She stayed and voted “no.”

“If you don’t like something, you go through the legal process and I don’t think the Texas legislators are following the legal process,” she said.

If the court agrees with the plaintiffs, Tracy said they could issue warrants for civil attendance and compel the 33 Texas Democrats back to the Lone Star State.

Also Thursday, Texas U.S. Sen. John Cornyn announced the FBI would assist in locating the absconding Democrats wherever they are.

Bethany Blankley contributed to this story.