Trump’s plan to ‘hunt down’ Texas Democrats goes horribly wrong as Chicago hotel gets bomb threat and evacuation

Democratic state lawmakers from Texas, who had left the state to stop a Republican-backed voting bill, were forced to evacuate their hotel in suburban Chicago due to a possible bomb threat. The St. Charles, Illinois, police department said they responded to the threat around 7:15 AM Central time at the hotel where the lawmakers were staying.

Working with the local fire department and a bomb squad from the county sheriff’s office, law enforcement searched the building. After about two hours, they declared the area safe, finding no explosive device, per The Washington Post. A total of 400 people were evacuated, and all guests and staff were allowed back inside once the scene was cleared.

The Democrats said, “This morning, a threat was made against the safety of the members of the Texas House Democratic Caucus. We are safe, we are secure, and we are undeterred. We are grateful for [Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker], local, and state law enforcement for their quick action to ensure our safety.”

Texas democrats go through bomb threat thanks to harsh calls from republicans

Texas state Representative John Bucy III blamed Republicans for the threat in an X post, saying, “This is what happens when Republican state leaders publicly call for us to be ‘hunted down.’ It’s hard to disagree when many supporters were willing to start an insurrection over Trump losing in 2016.

State Representative Jolanda Jones was in the middle of an interview when she found out about the threat. She said, “I just don’t understand why they’re threatening to blow us up. So, of course, I grabbed my stuff… People are in shambles. This is craziness to me.”

The Texas Democrats had tried to keep their Illinois location secret because they feared harassment and threats. Most of them were staying in suburban Chicago, where they had been meeting with Illinois’ governor and other Democratic leaders. The lawmakers had left Texas on Sunday to block Republicans from redrawing congressional district lines, a move that could give the GOP five extra seats in next year’s midterm elections.

Trump encouraged this redistricting effort, which likely put many things into motion. Republicans immediately criticized the Democrats for leaving, and some even threatened to have them removed from office.

The conflict has grown more heated in recent days. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton publicly promised to “hunt down” the Democrats. Texas Senator John Cornyn, a Republican, also wrote to the FBI director, asking the agency to help Texas authorities arrest the missing lawmakers. Paxton and Cornyn are expected to compete against each other in next year’s Republican primary for Cornyn’s Senate seat, a race that could decide which party controls the Senate.