The redistricting battle in Texas has escalated in recent days as state House Democrats left the Lone Star State to block a vote.
Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) said on Thursday that the FBI responded to his request to help arrest state House Democratic lawmakers who left the state in a bid to block a GOP-led redistricting effort.
Earlier this week, Cornyn sent a letter to the FBI and its director, Kash Patel, to request federal assistance in apprehending the Texas House Democrats who fled to other states, such as Illinois, Massachusetts, and New York, in a bid to block Republicans from conducting House business.
Earlier this week, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott also ordered the arrest of those Democrats, although his power is limited to within the state of Texas.
In a post on X, Cornyn said that Patel “has responded to my request to assist state & local law enforcement locate the runaway Texas House Democrats and investigate potential offenses.”
🚨@FBIDirectorKash has responded to my request to assist state & local law enforcement locate the runaway Texas House Democrats and investigate potential offenses.
— Senator John Cornyn (@JohnCornyn) August 6, 2025
Thank you Director Patel for your swift response & action!
“Thank you Director Patel for your swift response [and] action!” Cornyn said, without providing more details about what Patel had said.
Meanwhile, the FBI director hasn’t publicly responded to Cornyn’s request or the political situation that’s unfolding in Texas.
The Epoch Times contacted the FBI’s press office for comment but received no response as of Thursday morning.
On Wednesday, Abbott suggested in an interview with podcast host Dana Loesch that the FBI was going to assist in the search for the Democrats. Earlier that day, Abbott urged the Texas Supreme Court to remove state Rep. Gene Wu, chair of the Texas House Democratic caucus.
“It’s my understanding that the FBI is going to search for these derelict Texas House members, in whatever state they may be in, and help identify them, and maybe work with us to bring them back,” the Texas governor said in the interview.
The Democratic state lawmakers said they’ve left Texas to block the state House from reaching a quorum, a necessary step for House Republicans to advance the redistricting legislation or other measures.
