After Fleeing Texas, Rep. Cortez Becomes First Democrat in D.C. to Have a Warrant Against

After Fleeing Texas, Rep. Cortez Becomes First Democrat in D.C. to Have a Warrant Against Him

More than 50 democrats fled to Washington D.C. earlier this month in an attempt to stall and deny Gov. Abbott a quorum to pass a restrictive voting rights bill. This measure sparked outrage inside the GOP against the Democrats that fled, calling them lazy and not willing to work for the good people of Texas.

Rep. Philip Cortez of San Antonio was one of those initial 50 democrats that went to D.C. However, he returned to Texas last week in an attempt to establish a dialogue with the GOP sponsor of the legislation. 

After three failed meetings with state Rep. Andrew Murr of Junction, the GOP author of the elections proposal, Mr. Cortez chose to rejoin his Democratic colleagues in the nation’s capital.

The same day, Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan issued a civil arrest warrant against Mr. Cortez for fleeing the legislature a second time. Mr. Phelan was not happy with how Cortez handled the situation, as he said in a statement:

“Rep. Cortez returned to the Texas Capitol of his own volition and represented to me and his fellow members that he wanted to work on policy and find solutions to bring his colleagues back to Texas,” 

“As a condition of being granted permission to temporarily leave the House floor, Rep. Cortez promised his House colleagues that he would return.” 

“Instead, he fled the state and has irrevocably broken my trust and the trust of this chamber.”

Now that Cortez is back in D.C., where Texas state troopers have no jurisdiction, the warrant means little. If he returns to Texas, personnel from the Department of Public Safety may hold him and accompany him back to the Capitol.