Texas state capitol / Adobe Stock
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said the FBI will help track down Texas House Democrats who fled to Illinois Aug. 3 to block a Republican-led redistricting vote.
In a statement posted to social media Aug. 7, Cornyn said FBI Director Kash Patel had approved his request for federal agents “to assist state and local law enforcement in locating runaway Texas House Democrats.”
Cornyn added, “We cannot allow these rogue legislators to avoid their constitutional responsibilities.”
The Democrats left the state to deny Republicans the quorum needed to pass a redistricting map supported by President Donald Trump. The proposed map could flip five Democrat-held congressional seats ahead of the 2026 midterms, CatholicVote reported.
In an Aug. 5 letter to the FBI, Cornyn accused the lawmakers of violating state bribery laws by accepting money from outside groups to support their walkout.
The FBI has jurisdiction, according to Cornyn. He cited federal powers to help pursue individuals who cross state lines “to avoid testifying or fleeing a scene of a crime.”
Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott echoed Cornyn’s bribery accusation and warned that the fugitive Democrats could face felony charges. In an Aug. 7 interview with “The Dana Show,” Abbott said the Democrats had accepted money and benefits “at their request to support them while they’re gone.”
He added that accepting benefits to skip a vote “is a direct violation of the Texas constitution, as well as Texas property laws” and said lawmakers “could be charged with second-degree felony” under state law.
Abbott also said the FBI would help Texas authorities locate the lawmakers and immediately bring them to the Capitol.
On Aug. 5, Abbott filed an emergency lawsuit with the Texas Supreme Court to remove the absent lawmakers from public office, CatholicVote reported. The court gave House Democratic Caucus Chair Rep. Gene Wu until 5 p.m. Aug. 8 to respond. Wu led the walkout, according to Abbott.
The Texas House speaker has also issued civil warrants, and Abbott has ordered state police to arrest the fugitive Democrats. According to The New York Times, they are staying at a hotel in St. Charles, Illinois.
