Texas Democrats evacuated from Illinois hotel over bomb threat
"In response to the threat, 400 people were immediately evacuated and the area was secured as bomb squad units conducted their investigation," the St. Charles Police Department wrote. "Following clearance from authorities, all guests and staff have safely returned to the premises."
Illinois Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker wrote on X that, "Threats of violence will be investigated and those responsible will be held accountable."
Texas House Rep. John Bucy III, one of the Democrats at the hotel, told USA TODAY in an Aug. 6 interview that many legislators were still asleep when the alarm went off in the morning and that the group gathered outside. He said it took about two hours before everything was cleared up and they were allowed to safely reenter.
"I want to say thank you to Gov. Pritzker. I want to say thank you to law enforcement and to the hotel staff," Bucy said. "They worked diligently to make sure that the place was safe... They are showing what real leadership looks like. It's sad to me that (Texas Gov.) Greg Abbott doesn't have the same qualities in him as a leader."
More than 50 Texas Democrats left their state on Aug. 3 to deny Republicans the quorum they need to move ahead with their redistricting efforts. The effort could give Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives up to five more seats in the 2026 midterms.
The Democratic state lawmakers dispersed to blue states, including Illinois, Massachusetts and New York. Abbott, a Republican, filed an emergency petition Aug. 5 seeking to remove the Texas state Democratic House leader from office.
Contributing: Phillip Bailey, Savannah Kuchar, and Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY
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