Sheriff's Office Confirms Security Concerns for Plano Legislator Opposed to Abortion Ban Measure

AUSTIN — A Dallas-area Texas House member who has bottled up a legally improbable abortion ban measure was alerted to security concerns back home Wednesday night, the Collin County Sheriff's Office said Thursday.In Austin for the legislative session, Republican Rep. Jeff Leach, whose wife and three children have been home in Plano, declined to comment.But Lt. Nick Bristow of the sheriff's office said authorities brought security concerns to Leach's attention overnight based on "social media chatter we've seen online.""We're taking appropriate measures to address" the security concerns, he said.Bristow did not elaborate on the online posts that raised concerns, and he said it wouldn't be prudent to describe security measures the department has taken.The Texas Department of Public Safety also said it would not discuss security-related measures.Leach, in his second term, heads a House panel that took testimony this week on the abortion ban measure by Rep. Tony Tinderholt, R-Arlington.Although Leach was a co-author of the legislation in the 2017 legislative session, he has announced he won't let any measures threatening to women's health advance."I cannot and will not support nor will I let come out of this committee any bill on ... [abortion] which targets the woman with either civil or criminal liability," Leach said.He said he won't support legislation that punishes a woman who is "facing that difficult decision and who might make that decision."Tinderholt's legislation now has seven sponsors, including Tinderholt, records show. That's down from a dozen who were in place before this week. One representative, Phil Stephenson, R-Wharton, signed on as a co-author Wednesday.The Texas Alliance for Life, one of two anti-abortion groups that oppose Tinderholt's plan, saluted Leach on Twitter on Thursday for reaffirming his decision not to help the legislation advance.Two years ago, a Tinderholt adviser revealed that Tinderholt had Department of Public Safety protection after receiving death threats.  Continue reading...