1:45Sen. John Cornyn departs a Senate luncheon in the U.S. Capitol, June 3, 2025.Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call via Getty Images
Senator John Cornyn, a Republican from Texas, announced on Thursday that FBI Director Kash Patel has approved his appeal for federal assistance in tracking down Texas House Democrats who left the state to protest against GOP-led redistricting efforts.
Cornyn’s correspondence requesting federal aid in locating and investigating the state lawmakers was dispatched on Tuesday.
"I appreciate President Trump and Director Patel for their support and quick action in response to my request for the federal government to hold these alleged lawmakers accountable for abandoning Texas. We cannot permit these defiant legislators to shirk their constitutional duties," Cornyn stated in a press release.
The FBI has chosen not to comment on the situation.
Cornyn also appeared on "The Mark Davis" radio program on Thursday morning, where he expressed his appreciation for Patel’s swift reaction.
"To clarify, I asked Kash to investigate this matter, and he responded quickly; I am thankful to him," the senator remarked.
Sen. John Cornyn departs a Senate luncheon in the U.S. Capitol, June 3, 2025.Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call via Getty Images
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, a Democrat, criticized Cornyn and the FBI following Cornyn’s statement about the bureau’s approval of his request.
"John Cornyn is a senator who’s lost his footing, and this is yet another instance of a desperate attempt to protect himself, even if it necessitates involving the FBI in what could amount to an abuse of power by the Trump administration," Jeffries declared during an interview on ABC News Live on Thursday afternoon.
"The FBI ought to dedicate its resources to pursuing violent criminals, terrorists, drug traffickers, and child predators rather than targeting political opponents in a democracy here in America," Jeffries continued.
Later on Thursday, Cornyn replied on X, "The FBI investigates lawbreakers of all kinds, and they excel at it. What are you worried they will discover?"
Cornyn has labeled the Texas Democrats as "irresponsible" for breaking quorum, which has rendered the legislature incapable of addressing any legislation, including those responding to recent floods that devastated the area.
"There are several issues on the agenda that Governor Abbott has outlined, including redistricting, and they are absent from these discussions. I find that irresponsible, and we need to uncover the truth regarding this situation," Cornyn remarked. "They have to return home eventually … this tactic won’t succeed. They will not be able to ultimately evade their responsibilities. It’s merely a stunt."
In a phone conversation with ABC News on Thursday, state Representative Gene Wu, chair of the Texas House Democratic Caucus, stated that he and his fellow Democrats are not afraid of being captured by the FBI.
Wu indicated that the FBI does not need to conduct a search, as they are already aware of the whereabouts of all traveling Democrats, and described Cornyn’s maneuver to collaborate with the agency as “pathetic.”
“We were coordinating with Governor Pritzker and his security team," he mentioned, referring to Illinois Democratic Governor JB Pritzker. "The FBI knows exactly where we are."
The Texas House of Representatives once again failed on Tuesday to advance the GOP’s new congressional map, which could provide Republicans with an additional three to five seats in the upcoming midterm elections. These added seats could play a crucial role in determining control of the U.S. House, where Republicans currently hold a slim majority.
House Speaker Rep. Dustin Burrows, a Republican, announced that the legislature would make another attempt on Friday to establish a quorum.
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