Texas Democrat abruptly leaves DNC call after being warned she’s committing felony
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A Texas Democratic state lawmaker abruptly ended a call with Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chair Ken Martin and other top party leaders on Wednesday after being warned she could be committing a felony.
“Sorry, I have to leave,” state Rep. Nicole Collier (D) said during the call, interrupting Martin. “They said it’s a felony for me to do this. Apparently I can’t be on the floor or in a bathroom.”
“You told me I was only allowed to be here in the bathroom,” she added to someone off-camera. “No, hold on — bye everybody, I’ve got to go.”
Collier was participating in the call from inside the Texas Capitol, where the state House was advancing a GOP-backed redistricting map. Earlier, Democrats had fled Texas to block the map’s passage but returned this week.
Under Texas House rules, Democrats who leave and later re-enter the Capitol must do so under the supervision of a designated DPS officer and sign an agreement to return to the Legislature, according to Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows (R). Collier refused to comply with these terms and has remained in the state House in protest.
The specific action that triggered the felony warning was unclear, but the incident drew sharp criticism from Democratic leaders on the call.
Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) called the situation “outrageous,” saying, “Rep. Collier in the bathroom has more dignity than Donald Trump in the Oval Office.”
“That is outrageous. What they’re trying to do is silence an American leader, silence a Black woman, and that is unacceptable,” Booker added.
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