德州州長提告罷免吳元之，掀起憲政風波

2025年8月5日，德州州長阿博特（Greg Abbott）向德州最高法院提起罷免訴訟，要求撤除休士頓州眾議員吳元之（Gene Wu）的職務，指控他在特別會期帶領民主黨議員集體離席，阻止眾議院就選區重劃法案進行表決。

阿博特引用罕見的「質疑資格令」（writ of quo warranto），稱吳「逃避職責、接受資助、涉嫌受賄」，不再具備擔任公職的資格。

吳元之強烈反駁，表示離席行動是對選民和憲法的承諾：「抗議是我的責任，而不是逃避職責。」他批評州長濫用司法手段壓制政治異議。

法律學者普遍認為，阿博特的舉動前所未見，缺乏明確法律依據，也可能違反三權分立原則。德州最高法院預計將於8月7日前作出初步裁定，影響深遠。

Texas Governor Moves to Remove Gene Wu, Sparks Constitutional Showdown

[Austin, TX] — On August 5, 2025, Texas Governor Greg Abbott filed an emergency petition with the state Supreme Court seeking to remove State Representative Gene Wu (D–Houston) from office. Abbott accuses Wu of leading a Democratic walkout that blocked a vote on the GOP’s redistricting bill during a special legislative session.

Invoking a rare, “writ of quo warranto,” Abbott alleges Wu abandoned his duties, accepted outside funding, and may have committed bribery, claiming these actions disqualify him from holding public office.

Wu fired back, saying the walkout was a constitutional protest: “Standing up for my constituents and for democracy is not dereliction of duty — it’s my job.” He denounced Abbott’s lawsuit as a political stunt and judicial overreach.

Legal experts say the governor’s case is unprecedented and legally questionable, warning it could violate the principle of separation of powers. The Texas Supreme Court is expected to respond by August 7, with potential implications for legislative balance and political protest.