Source: Politics<\/p>\n
CHICAGO \u2014 The Texas Democrats staying in a Chicago suburb to protest a controversial redistricting map in their state said Wednesday that they are facing threats against their group.<\/p>\n
The St. Charles Police Department, which oversees the jurisdiction where they are staying, confirmed a potential bomb threat was made.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis 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 Governor [JB] Pritzker, local, and state law enforcement for their quick action to ensure our safety,\u201d caucus leadership said in a statement.<\/p>\n
The St. Charles Police Department said the threat came in at about 7:15 a.m. Central time.<\/p>\n
\u201cSt. Charles Police Department responded to a report of a potential bomb threat at the Q-Center hotel and convention complex\u201d in St. Charles, the city\u2019s police department said in a statement, and local police and the Kane County Sheriff\u2019s Office bomb squad \u201cconducted a thorough search and no device was found.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIn response to the threat, 400 people were immediately evacuated and the area was secured as bomb squad units conducted their investigation,\u201d police said.<\/p>\n
The guests and staff were allowed to return after police gave clearance to do so.<\/p>\n
The Texas statehouse Democrats are in Illinois after leaving their state en masse Sunday in an attempt to prevent a quorum in the Texas state Legislature \u2014 and thus stop a vote on a controversial Republican-drawn congressional map that would give as many as five more U.S. House seats to the GOP in the 2026 midterms.<\/p>\n
The group postponed a planned press conference with Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) after reports of the threat.<\/p>\n