Rep. Nicole Collier Seeks Release from Unlawful Restraint
Rep. Nicole Collier, a Democratic member of the Texas House, has asked an Austin court to order her release from what she says amounts to unlawful restraint by state officials.
Details of the Incident at the Texas Capitol
Collier, who spent Monday night inside the Texas Capitol, filed a habeas corpus petition after being told she would need a police escort to leave the building. She and several other Democrats had recently returned to the Capitol after an earlier exodus that delayed a GOP-led redistricting vote.
House Republicans arranged state police escorts for returning Democrats to ensure their presence when the chamber reconvenes Wednesday. Collier refused to sign the written permission that would place her under escort, saying she spent the night on the House floor rather than comply.
Collier's Statement and Legal Arguments
On CBS News’ program The Takeout, Collier said other Democrats tore up those permission forms and planned to remain on the floor with her. She called the escort requirement “unreasonable, un-American and unnecessary.”
In the habeas corpus filing, Co...