德州州长提告罢免吴元之，掀起宪政风波

2025年8月5日，德州州长阿博特（Greg Abbott）向德州最高法院提起罢免诉讼，要求撤除休士顿州眾议员吴元之（Gene Wu）的职务，指控他在特别会期带领民主党议员集体离席，阻止眾议院就选区重划法案进行表决。

阿博特引用罕见的「质疑资格令」（writ of quo warranto），称吴「逃避职责、接受资助、涉嫌受贿」，不再具备担任公职的资格。

吴元之强烈反驳，表示离席行动是对选民和宪法的承诺：「抗议是我的责任，而不是逃避职责。」他批评州长滥用司法手段压制政治异议。

法律学者普遍认為，阿博特的举动前所未见，缺乏明确法律依据，也可能违反三权分立原则。德州最高法院预计将於8月7日前作出初步裁定，影响深远。

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.