| Harris County, Texas — Harris County Attorney Jonathan Fombonne issued the following statement after the Texas Supreme Court rejected efforts by Governor Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton to remove State Representative Gene Wu from office: “The Texas Supreme Court’s unanimous decision reaffirms a fundamental principle of our democracy: elected officials cannot be removed from office through political disagreement or by bypassing the legal limits set by our Constitution and state law. This case wasn’t just about one legislator, it was about whether the courts would allow the Governor to overturn the will of voters outside the legal process established under Texas law. The Court correctly recognized that disputes within the Legislature must be resolved through the constitutional mechanisms already available to that branch of government, not through judicial intervention. Our office filed an amicus brief opposing this attempted removal because the rule of law, separation of powers, and respect for democratic institutions must remain bigger than politics. No elected official, regardless of party, should face removal through legal theories that exceed the authority granted under Texas law. The Court’s ruling helps reinforce important constitutional boundaries and protects the integrity of representative government in Texas.” The Harris County Attorney’s Office previously filed an amicus brief arguing the Governor lacked authority to pursue the quo warranto action and that Representative Wu had not abandoned his office under Texas law. |