Sen. John Cornyn, a Texas Republican, stated on Thursday that FBI Director Kash Patel has granted his request for the federal authorities to help with finding Texas Home Democrats who fled the state in protest of GOP-led redistricting efforts.
Cornyn’s letter requesting federal assist with finding and investigating the state legislators was despatched on Tuesday.
“I thank President Trump and Director Patel for supporting and swiftly performing on my name for the federal authorities to carry these supposed lawmakers accountable for fleeing Texas. We can not enable these rogue legislators to keep away from their constitutional duties,” Cornyn stated in a information launch.
The FBI declined to touch upon the matter.
Cornyn additionally joined “The Mark Davis” radio present on Thursday morning and expressed his gratitude for Patel’s immediate response.
“Simply to resolve it, I requested Kash to look into it and he responded promptly, I am grateful to him,” the senator stated.
Sen. John Cornyn leaves a senate luncheon within the U.S. Capitol, June 3, 2025.
Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Name through Getty Photos
Cornyn additionally known as the Democrats “irresponsible” for breaking quorum — and rendering the legislature unable to take up any laws, together with some in responds to the floods that devastated the area not too long ago.
“There are a variety of issues on the decision that Gov. Abbott has listed, together with redistricting, however they’re lacking all of these. And I believe that is irresponsible, and I believe we simply must resolve it,” stated Cornyn. “They bought to come back again house someday … it isn’t going to achieve success. They don’t seem to be going to have the ability to in the end escape their duty. It is a stunt.”
The Texas Home of Representatives failed once more on Tuesday to maneuver ahead on enacting the GOP’s new congressional map, which may web Republicans between three and 5 seats in subsequent yr’s midterm elections. These added seats could possibly be the distinction maker over who has management of the U.S. Home — a chamber the place Republicans have a small majority.
Home Speaker Rep. Dustin Burrows, a Republican, stated the legislature would strive once more on Friday to determine a quorum.
Within the meantime, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott ordered the Texas Division of Public Security to search out and arrest these Democrats, an order Abbott stated will stay in impact till they’re “accounted for and introduced again” to Austin.
President Donald Trump earlier this week informed ABC Information Chief White Home Correspondent Mary Bruce the FBI “might must become involved.”
“You may’t simply sit it out. It’s important to return. It’s important to battle it out. That is what elections are all about,” the president stated on the time.
