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.

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

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.