A fracas broke out on Monday during the closing session of the Texas state legislature in Austin. Matt Rinaldi, a Republican representative, claims that a Democratic colleague made a death threat against him after the House Gallery was interrupted by protesters.
Rinaldi stated on Facebook that Democrat lawmaker Poncho Nevarez threatened his life after the Republican legislator called Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers on the protesters who had interrupted the Memorial Day closing session. The protesters had descended upon the gallery holding signs in opposition to Texas' new sanctuary city law.
Renaldi threatens to shoot Nevarez
Rinaldi stated that after he contacted ICE agents he was physically assaulted by another Democrat, Rep. Ramon Romero, who represents Fort Worth. It was during this shoving match that Rinaldi claims the death threat was made by Nevarez. Rinaldi stated:
"During that time Poncho told me that he would 'get me on the way to my car'. He later approached me and reiterated that 'I had to leave at some point, and he would get me."
The Republican then warned Nevarez that he would shoot him in self-defense if he had to.
According to Breitbart News' Texas division, Nevarez vehemently denied the accusation and claimed that it was Rinaldi who had been the aggressor. Nevarez alleges that tempers flared after he overheard Rinaldi bragging to other Republican colleagues that he had called ICE officers on the protesters.
The confrontation escalated into a shoving match between the two legislators.
When asked about the alleged death threat, Nevarez told Breitbart News that they were the "fabrications of an unstable individual."
Both lawmakers insist that they have witnesses who can verify their claims.
Senate Bill 4 is a touchy subject in spite of majority support
The Memorial Day madness was the result of Senate Bill 4, which prohibits Texas law enforcement officials from ignoring detainer requests from federal immigration authorities. The new law is set to go into effect on September 1.
Senate Bill 4 passed the Texas House on April 27 by a wide margin-- 94 to 53.Texas Senator Charles Perry (R-Lubbock) is the bill's author.
Although polls indicate that an overwhelming majority of Texans support SB-4, protesters have worked tirelessly to oppose the measure. A large demonstration at the State Capitol on April 26 drew support from hundreds of immigrants as well as from several law enforcement officials from Dallas, Harris and Bexar Counties.
