AUSTIN, Texas — Ken Paxton is asking that California law enforcement officers be allowed to arrest Texas House Democrats who are staying in the state, according to a lawsuit the attorney general filed Friday.

Gov. Greg Abbott previously asked the court to expel Rep. Gene Wu, the House Democratic leader. Paxton disputed the governor’s authority to make the request.

"These cowards deliberately sabotaged the constitutional process and violated the oath they swore to uphold," Paxton said in a statement.