FROM ABC NEWS: Sen. John Cornyn, a Texas Republican, said on Thursday that FBI Director Kash Patel has granted his request for the federal government to assist with locating Texas House Democrats who fled the state in protest of GOP-led redistricting efforts.
Cornyn’s letter requesting federal help with locating and investigating the state legislators was sent on Tuesday.
“I thank President Trump and Director Patel for supporting and swiftly acting on my call for the federal government to hold these supposed lawmakers accountable for fleeing Texas. We cannot allow these rogue legislators to avoid their constitutional responsibilities,” Cornyn said in a news release.
On Thursday morning, Cornyn joined “The Mark Davis” radio show. He told the host he just wanted to “get to the bottom of it.”
”I asked Kash to look into it and he responded promptly, I’m grateful to him,” he said on the show.
Cornyn said the Democrats’ actions were “irresponsible” as important legislative matters, such as responding to the recent floods that hurt the region.
“There are a number of things on the call that Gov. Abbott has listed, including redistricting, but they’re missing all of those. And I think that’s irresponsible, and I think we just need to get to the bottom of it,” said Cornyn. “They got to come back home sometime … it’s not going to be successful. They’re not going to be able to ultimately escape their responsibility. It’s a stunt.”
On NOW: Sen @JohnCornyn on his call for the #FBI to track down wayward #Texas Dems… and more: Listen live at https://t.co/30aaqQpFTy
— Mark Davis (@MarkDavis) August 7, 2025
Democrat Hakeem Jeffries (NY), the House minority leader, responded to the news in a post on X.
“Shouldn’t the FBI be tracking down terrorists, drug traffickers and child predators?” he wrote. “The Trump administration continues to weaponize law enforcement to target political adversaries. These extremists don’t give a damn about public safety. We will not be intimidated.”
Shouldn’t the FBI be tracking down terrorists, drug traffickers and child predators?
The Trump administration continues to weaponize law enforcement to target political adversaries.
These extremists don’t give a damn about public safety.
We will not be intimidated. pic.twitter.com/6ayz7yQKrM
— Hakeem Jeffries (@hakeemjeffries) August 7, 2025
Texas Democrats have courageously refused to rubber stamp Donald Trump’s viciously gerrymandered congressional map.
Republicans are threatening to arrest and prosecute them in response.
We won’t bend the knee to the malignant extremists.
— Hakeem Jeffries (@RepJeffries) August 5, 2025
The FBI declined to comment on the matter.
READ MORE AT ABC NEWS
