Republican leadership in Texas refused to let Democratic state Rep. Nicole Collier leave the House chamber after she refused to agree to a 24/7 police "escort."
For the first time in days on Monday, the Texas House of Representatives achieved a quorum following Democratic lawmakers' decision to return to the state despite an ongoing redistricting battle that could award five or more seats to Republicans.
House Speaker Dustin Burrows (R) said that Democrats who left the state would only be allowed to leave the chamber on Monday if they signed an agreement to be accompanied by an escort from the Texas Department of Public Safety.
NBC News correspondent Ryan Chandler reported that Collier was "locked into the House chamber" because she refused to sign the document.
"Members are really not happy with the individual DPS escorts," Chandler noted. "Say they are not free to move on their own."
"In my heart I don't feel compelled to sign it," Collier told Chandler. "I'll just sit here, I don't know… I guess I'll wait til Wednesday."
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