FBI Agrees to Help Catch Fleeing Texas Dems
FBI Agrees to Help Catch Fleeing Texas Dems
The News
Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) says FBI Director Kash Patel has approved his request to help state and local law enforcement locate Texas Democrats who have fled the Lone Star State in hopes of stalling a partisan redistricting effort.
“I am proud to announce that Director Kash Patel has approved my request for the FBI to assist state and local law enforcement in locating runaway Texas House Democrats,” Cornyn said in a statement Thursday morning.
Cornyn says the lawmakers are “potentially acting in violation of the law” and that the FBI has the tools to aid state law enforcement when parties cross state lines.
“Specifically, I am concerned that legislators who solicited or accepted funds to aid in their efforts to avoid their legislative duties may be guilty of bribery or other public corruption offenses,” he wrote earlier this week.
Timeline
Cornyn asked Patel in an Aug. 5 letter for the FBI to “take any appropriate steps to aid in Texas state law enforcement efforts to locate or arrest potential lawbreakers who have fled the state” to stop a Republican-led redistricting effort from moving forward.
Reactions
“I thank President Trump and Director Patel for supporting and swiftly acting on my call for thr federal government to hold these supposed lawmakers accountable for fleeing Texas,” Cornyn said.
Cornyn posted on the social platform X earlier Thursday that Patel had “responded to my request to assist state & local law enforcement locate the runaway Texas House Democrats and investigate potential offenses.”
“Thank you Director Patel for your swift response & action!” Cornyn posted.
President Trump has also supported the effort.
What's Next
The senator warned that his request is a “time-sensitive matter,” as the Texas Legislature is in a special session with two weeks left to redraw the congressional map.
More
The state lawmakers have left Texas to prevent the state House from achieving a quorum, which is necessary for the Republicans’ redistricting legislation to move forward.
UMass Dartmouth Running Back, 18, Stabbed to Death
Trump Vows 'AI Force,' Czar; Polls Name Change
Sep 20, 2026
Iran Sends Trump Three Conditions to End War
Sep 19, 2026
Faulty AI Intel Nearly Started War With China
Sep 19, 2026
German General Breuer Elected NATO's Top Officer
Sep 19, 2026
Nobel Laureate: War, Sanctions Crushing Iranians
Sep 19, 2026
Dutch Police Disperse Violent Far-Right Hague Protest
Sep 19, 2026
GOP Midterm Odds Fade With 45 Days Left
Sep 19, 2026
Maher Rejects Tarlov's Claim Democrats Are Less Crazy
Sep 19, 2026
Patrick Clancy Breaks Silence After Ex-Wife Killed Kids
Sep 19, 2026
Trump Cuts Park Staff, Diverts Fees to DC
Sep 19, 2026
Holocaust Heirs Sue LA Museums Over Looted Art
Sep 19, 2026
Trump's Fed Chair Hikes Rates, Defying White House
Sep 19, 2026
Miller Drives Push to Deport Illegal Immigrant Children
Sep 19, 2026
US Lifts Sanctions on Eritrea's Military, Ruling Party
Sep 19, 2026
Air Force Admits US Has Space Weapons
Sep 19, 2026
Turkey Revokes License of Iran's Mellat Bank
Sep 19, 2026
Billionaire Ratcliffe Blasts Britain Over Immigration, Taxes
Sep 19, 2026
Navajo Nation Flash Flood Kills Three
Sep 19, 2026
Explosions Over Riyadh Trigger Saudi Air Alerts
Sep 19, 2026
Sep 19, 2026