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Texas Democratic state Rep. Nicole Collier abruptly ended a private call with California Gov. Gavin Newsom and other Democratic leaders this week, according to an audio recording of the call obtained by Fox News Digital. Collier told the group she had been informed it was a felony for her to be on the call while in the Texas Capitol, as the state House was in session nearby. The state House of Representatives was on the floor debating a voting and redistricting measure supported by former President Donald Trump and Republicans at the time.

Collier was on a video call with Newsom, Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin, and other Democrats while the Texas House was on the floor of the Capitol. The lawmaker’s remarks about the call came while she was speaking about a redistricting bill that she and other Democrats in the state have accused of violating federal voting rights protections.

Collier argued the proposed Texas map weakened protections under the Voting Rights Act that allowed for minority communities to elect their preferred candidates. “This bill will prevent Black and brown individuals from selecting the candidates of their choice because they’re cracking and packing these districts,” Collier said during her remarks.

Collier’s appearance on a call with Democratic officials is part of a broader redistricting battle between Texas and California. Democrats in the Lone Star State, including dozens of members of the Texas House of Representatives, had fled the state to block Republicans from securing a quorum and advancing the redistricting legislation. The Texas bill, if passed, could add as many as five GOP congressional seats to the state, according to Democrats.

Democrats in California, meanwhile, have come up with their redistricting map that could eliminate up to five GOP seats from the Golden State. Newsom was on the call on Friday with Biden administration officials as well as the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) as Democrats there unveiled a new congressional map.

The two leaders could essentially cancel each other out: The Texas map added five seats to the GOP’s potential bench in Congress, while the California map took those five seats away. The new California map was released on Friday and could eliminate as many as five Republican districts on the West Coast. With every state seat up for grabs in the fight for control of the House and Senate, Democrats have been waging intense battles over redistricting this year. The California state map is on pace to be approved, with the deadline to finalize it still several months away.

As for Texas Democrats, when they returned to Austin, they found a Capitol in turmoil. State Department of Public Safety (DPS) officers began shadowing them in and out of the state Capitol, with some even stationed outside of their offices or following them around the building. Lawmakers also said they had to sign “permission slips” to leave the state Capitol. The heightened security measures were reportedly implemented to prevent Democrats from fleeing the state and stripping the House of a quorum once again.

In the audio recording of the call obtained by Fox News Digital, Collier cut off Martin mid-sentence to end the call. “Sorry, I have to leave. They said it’s a felony for me to do this,” Collier said, looking off-camera. “I can’t be on the floor or in the bathroom.” She then turned back to the camera and addressed the group.

“No, hang on. Bye everybody. I’ve got to go,” Collier said before ending the call. The other Democrats on the call appeared stunned by the abrupt decision to leave the call. New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker went on an immediate tirade about the turn of events.

“Look at what happened. We cannot let that happen. That is outrageous,” Booker said. “Let me tell you something, Rep. Collier in the bathroom has more dignity than Donald Trump in the Oval Office.”

Newsom gave a slow clap of agreement, and Booker continued, suggesting it was an attempt to silence the Black lawmaker. “What they’re trying to do right there is silence an American leader, silence a Black woman, and that is outrageous. And what we just witnessed is them trying to shut her down and saying it’s illegal for her to be in the bathroom and on this call. This is the lengths that they’re going to go in Texas. Holy cow.”