CHICAGO (WLS) — A west suburban hotel complex reported a second bomb threat on Friday. This site is where Texas Democrats have been staying after leaving their state to block a congressional redistricting vote.
The threat was reported at the Q-Center hotel and convention complex, located in the 1400-block of North Fifth Avenue. St. Charles police responded to the alert just after 8:30 a.m.
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Authorities, including the St. Charles Police Department, the Kane County Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad, and the Explosive Detection K-9 Unit, conducted a search but found no explosives.
Police have deemed the area secure, and all 70 hotel guests are safe.
St. Charles police have stepped up patrols in the area since the initial report.
On Wednesday, over 50 members of the Texas House Democratic Caucus were staying at the hotel, when the first bomb threat was made.
That was also deemed unfounded.
U.S. Sen. John Cornyn announced on Thursday that FBI Director Kash Patel approved assistance from the FBI to help Texas law enforcement locate the Democrats.
Bryan Zarou from the Better Government Association joined ABC7 to discuss.
The state legislators left Texas to prevent a quorum and halt the process for redistricting congressional districts.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is also trying to vacate the seat of the head of the Democratic caucus, which Democrats claim he has no authority to do.
Abbott is also calling for absent Democrats to be arrested and returned to Texas.
He wanted the Democrats back in the state in time for a vote on Friday, when the House reconvenes.
The House again failed to reach a quorum Friday afternoon. They will try again on Monday.
Democrats in Illinois said they are determined to stay away at least until Aug. 19, when the special session ends.
The Democrats held a news conference Friday afternoon in Elmhurst.
The lawmakers gathered in a show of unity and determination against a new threat.
Texas Attorney General has filed petitions with the state Supreme Court to remove from office 13 of the absent Democrats. They remain stalwart.
Meanwhile, Texas Democrats attended a joint press event with California colleagues at a union hall. California Gov. Gavin Newsome discussed the increasing tensions over redistricting, which might provoke retaliatory measures favoring Democrats.
“We anticipated incidents like these, and Texas Democrats undertook this task fully aware of the associated risks,” stated state Rep. Gene Wu, leader of the Texas House minority.
Paxton filed petitions with the state Supreme Court alleging that by leaving the state to prevent a quorum, and thus a vote on the Republican redrawn congressional maps, the Democrats have vacated their offices.
“I don’t think he has the authority to remove me from my position. I was elected by my constituents, and my constituents have supported me in this quorum break,” Democratic state Rep. Vikki Goodwin said.
The new maps would give Republicans up to five additional seats.
Abbott upped the ante Friday, if Democrats continue to stay away.
“If they don’t start showing up, I may start expanding. We may make it six or seven or eight new seats we’re going to be adding, on the Republican side,” Abbott said.
Democrats are hoping public opinion swings their way.
“Our whole mission is to make sure that the whole nation knows that this is happening because we believe that it won’t stop the Texas,” said state Rep. Harold Dutton Jr., a Democrat from Houston.
In fact, other red states are looking at drawing new maps, including Florida and Missouri, and the White House is also pressuring Indiana to consider it.
Anyone with information on the threats is asked to call the St. Charles Police Department at 630-377-4435.
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