Texas Lawmakers Among 400 Evacuated From IL Hotel After 'Threats Of Violence': Pritzker

ST. CHARLES, IL — Lawmakers from Texas were among 400 people evacuated from the Q-Center hotel and convention complex in St. Charles Wednesday morning following the report of a potential bomb threat.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker said "threats of violence" made against the lawmakers are being investigated.

The St. Charles Police Department responded to a report of a potential bomb threat at the Q-Center hotel and convention complex at 1405 N. 5th Ave. in St. Charles at about 7:15 a.m. on Wednesday. The St. Charles police and fire departments and the Kane County Sheriff’s Office bomb squad conducted a thorough search and no bomb or device was found, police said.

In response to the threat, 400 people were immediately evacuated and the area was secured as bomb squad units investigated the situation. All guests and staff have since safely returned to the hotel, police said.

Police are continuing to work with the agencies involved as the investigation continues. Anyone with information is asked to contact the St. Charles Police Department at 630-377-4435.

Texas Officials Try To Thwart Redistricting

More than 50 state lawmakers have left Texas for other states — including Illinois — to prevent a quorum and stop special sessions to redraw legislative districts to give five more Republican seats to President Donald Trump.

Earlier this week, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul spoke out against legal threats against Texas state officials who've come to Illinois, saying Texas police cannot come to Illinois to arrest Democrats.

"In Illinois, the rule of law matters, and law enforcement must have a legitimate legal basis to arrest someone," Raoul said in a statement. "Texas law enforcement officers have no authority to hunt down and make arrests of Texas legislators in Illinois based on a civil arrest warrant issued by the Texas House. The Texas House may have managed to issue civil arrest warrants without having a quorum, but those civil warrants carry no weight in Illinois."

Pritzker is among Democratic governors who have also responded to redistricting efforts by saying he's considered whether Illinois should redraw its map in Democrats' favor, adding, "everything has to be on the table," CBS reported. "Trump came up with a new scheme to rig the system by ramming through a corrupt, mid-decade redistricting plan that would steal five congressional seats, silencing millions of voters, especially Black and Latino voters."