The Texas attorney general’s office is allegedly stalling to avoid complying with a House committee’s demand to allow death row inmate Robert Roberson to testify in person. Lawmakers, Rep. Jeff Leach and Rep. Joe Moody, believe the AG’s office is deliberately delaying the process until the committee’s expiration. The committee intervened to halt Roberson’s execution and is awaiting confirmation from the AG’s office on allowing Roberson to testify in the Capitol on Dec. 20. Despite three orders from the Texas Supreme Court to cooperate, the AG’s office has not responded. Moody set a deadline for a response and threatened to issue a new subpoena if no compliance is shown. The back and forth between the lawmakers and AG’s office escalated when plans for Roberson’s testimony were thwarted due to safety concerns and unrealistic virtual options. The AG’s office proposed a letter for the lawmakers to admit that Roberson was guilty, which they rejected. The Texas Supreme Court ruled that legislative subpoenas cannot block execution, but the committee can pursue judicial relief to compel testimony. Leach warned that further resistance may lead to Supreme Court intervention. The dispute highlights a conflict between the legislative and executive branches and questions the state’s commitment to justice. The AG’s office did not immediately respond to these allegations.
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