Texas Democrats who left the state in a bid to block redrawn U.S. House maps have responded to Republican Governor Greg Abbott's threat to remove them from office if they don't return by Monday afternoon.

Legal experts say it’s “inconsistent with the Texas Constitution” to argue a quorum break qualifies as abandoning an office.

Bomb threat made to House Democrats’ hotel in Illinois AUSTIN — Gov. Greg Abbott asked the Texas Supreme Court on Tuesday to remove House Democratic Caucus chair Rep. Gene Wu of Houston. The lawsuit filed by the governor’s office comes hours after Attorney General Ken Paxton made a similar threat Tuesday afternoon.