Gov. Greg Abbott previously asked the court to expel Rep. Gene Wu, the House Democratic leader. Paxton disputed the governor’s authority to make the request.

These cowards deliberately sabotaged the constitutional process and violated the oath they swore to uphold,” Paxton said in a statement.

Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) is asking the Texas Supreme Court to strip the alleged “ringleader” leading Texas Democrats of his elected office. Abbott filed an emergency petition Tuesday to remove Democratic Texas House Minority Leader Gene Wu from his post.