(C) Texas Tribune This story was originally published by Texas Tribune and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . The Blast - August 6, 2025 [1] ['The Texas Tribune'] Date: 2025-08 13 days until sine die 94 days until the candidate filing period begins 124 days until the candidate filing deadline Paxton is also exploring the bribery angle by investigating Powered by People , the Beto O’Rourke PAC that the Tribune’s Owen Dahlkamp reported is partially funding Democrats’ quorum break. Since then, Paxton has said he is open to the FBI’s involvement. President Donald Trump told reporters that the bureau “ may have to ” step in. It sounds like they may have, because Cornyn says Director Kash Patel has responded to his request for assistance . “Apparently, the Attorney General disagrees with @POTUS and doesn’t want the FBI’s help despite potential federal offenses, nor from Governor @GregAbbott_TX either,” Cornyn posted . “Problem is, he has abandoned his post and is only available by video from an undisclosed location on a golf vacation in Europe.” Cornyn’s campaign is running ads against Paxton’s handling of the quorum break. Meanwhile, Cornyn’s beef is not with Abbott. It’s with Paxton, who polls show leading the 2026 Senate primary. Cornyn doesn’t have much agency in the state-level quorum battle, but he has capitalized on Paxton’s legal dispute with Abbott. Whatever the case, the governor and his attorney general are not on the same page. Abbott’s office did not discuss its filing with Paxton’s office at least since Sunday, when Abbott became the first top official to publicly threaten vacating Democrats’ seats. Citing the Court’s ruling in the Annunciation House case — brought by Paxton — the governor’s office argues Chapter 66 isn’t a limit on quo warranto petitions and that Abbott and Paxton should both be able to file petitions simultaneously. “While the Attorney General appreciates the Governor’s passion for ensuring that the Texas House reestablishes the quorum that is necessary to discharge the important business of the Legislature, this Court’s precedent is clear that a ‘quo warranto’ proceeding ‘can only be brought by the attorney general, a county attorney, or a district attorney,’” Paxton wrote in a letter to the Supreme Court’s clerk. The Abbott-Paxton dispute stems from the fact that they are citing different parts of the law addressing writs of quo warranto, a rarely used tool to determine whether someone has the right to hold their office. Abbott points to Article 5 Section 3 of the Texas Constitution, which says, “The Legislature may confer original jurisdiction on the Supreme Court to issue writs of quo warranto and mandamus in such cases as may be specified. Paxton points to Chapter 66 of the Civil Practice and Remedies Code, which gives the attorney general and county or district attorneys the authority to file their petitions with the proper county court. U.S. Sen. John Cornyn asked the FBI to get involved and says Paxton is AWOL in Europe. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton says Abbott nor the Supreme Court have the authority to file or consider that. Republicans feel they have the upper hand in the Texas House quorum battle. But as top state electeds test their legal tools to corral the Democratic échappée, the Republican effort has devolved into a bit of a circular firing squad, with the political jockeying unfolding before the backdrop of the 2026 election. The Texas Tribune thanks its sponsors. Become one . NO (RESOURCE) WITNESSES While House Speaker Dustin Burrows and Republicans shame Democrats for jetting off to Illinois, the House is moving forward with the flood response portion of the special session call. But disaster and flooding committee member Joe Moody, a Democrat who stayed behind, is fleshing out his caucus’ case that Gov. Greg Abbott has put flood relief second to redistricting. The House Select Committee on Disaster Preparedness and Flooding met yesterday afternoon to consider five bills with the intent of getting them ready for when Democrats return. “This work is too important to wait on the political games to get over with,” Chair Ken King, R-Canadian, told the committee. A few minutes into the hearing, Moody asked if anyone from the governor’s office was there as a resource witness. In past disasters, like the pandemic, the governor has taken action without the Legislature passing a law, the El Paso Democrat asserted. He wanted to ask Abbott’s office questions to ensure that the governor is doing everything he possibly can. “I think that’s more than a fair request, and we’re making that call right now,” King responded. As the meeting wound down, Moody followed up to check if the committee ever heard back from the governor’s office. “I don’t believe we did,” King said. “We were getting some texts for a minute, but we will make sure that in our next meeting they are here.” With that, Moody again expressed his desire to hear what the governor’s office has done so far, given that it has taken “extraordinary” actions in past crises. “This is the important work that we’re here to do,” Moody said. “I’m here to do it.” “Games shouldn’t be played with this topic,” he continued, “and if it needs legislation, we will pass it. If it doesn’t, it needs to be done, now.” King responded that he doesn’t disagree. In a statement, Abbott spokesperson Andrew Mahaleris told The Blast that the committee didn’t invite the office to speak until the hearing was already underway. “The governor and his office remain in constant communication and are working closely with lawmakers and their staff since the devastating floods hit last month,” Mahaleris said. “Although the governor’s office was not invited in person to the hearing until it had already begun, we closely monitored the testimony.” At 4:38 p.m., about halfway through the meeting, Abbott filed his petition to have House Democratic Leader Gene Wu removed from office. One Democrat told The Blast that shows where their priorities are. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton also caught some strays in the hearing. House Bill 20 would give the AG’s office additional duties policing organizations that solicit charitable funds during a disaster. However, the attorney general didn’t have a resource witness at the hearing. “I’m actually a little bit surprised no one’s here from their office,” Moody said. “Speaker Moody, I share your surprise that the state agencies that are going to be affected by the bills we’re going to pass did not take the time to send somebody to testify on them,” King responded. The bill’s author, Rep. Drew Darby, R-San Angelo, piled on. [END] --- [1] Url: https://thetexastribune.beehiiv.com/p/the-blast-august-6-2025-0a24997e15414d22 Published and (C) by Texas Tribune Content appears here under this condition or license: Used with Permission: https://www.texastribune.org/republishing-guidelines/. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/texastribune/