Texas US senator seeks FBI help investigating fleeing state House Democrats

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, on Tuesday wrote a letter to FBI Director Kash Patel asking for the bureau’s help in finding and arresting Texas House Democrats who fled the state Sunday to prevent a vote on redistricting.

“I have asked @FBIDirectorKash to work with @GregAbbott_TX & Texas law enforcement to investigate potential CRIMINAL acts, including bribery, and to hold legislators accountable who have fled the state in a shameful attempt to stall the legislative process in the Texas House,” Cornyn wrote in a post on X Tuesday.

By fleeing the state, the lawmakers have left Texas House of Representatives without a quorum, meaning that no legislative activity can proceed. A quorum was not reached again Tuesday.

Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, has requested the FBI’s help in apprehending Texas state House Democrats who have fled the state. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc. via Getty Images)

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“In a representative democracy, we resolve our differences by debating and voting, not by running away,” Cornyn wrote in the letter. “Some Texas legislators have fled to New York, and others have fled to Illinois. Since these state legislators are currently outside of Texas, the Texas Department of Public Safety may need support to arrest the fleeing lawmakers.”

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton released a statement Tuesday afternoon saying he will seek judicial orders declaring that runaway Democrats who fail to appear by the speaker’s deadline have vacated their office.

“Democrats have abandoned their offices by fleeing Texas, and a failure to respond to a call of the House constitutes a dereliction of their duty as elected officials,” Paxton wrote in the statement, which he shared on X. “Starting Friday, any rogue lawmakers refusing to return to the House will be held accountable for vacating their office. The people of Texas elected lawmakers, not jet-setting runaways looking for headlines. If you don’t show up to work, you get fired.”

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Cornyn also warned of “out-of-state actors” making public comments about protecting the missing Texas legislators.

“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 added.

In an op-ed published by the Houston Chronicle on Tuesday, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul admitted to hosting Texas House Democrats at the state Capitol and governor’s residence in Albany this week, claiming they were “following a legitimate and legal tactic.” 

“As John Lewis said, sometimes you have to get into good trouble,” Hochul wrote. “That’s what they’re doing – and they’re not alone.”

FBI Director Kash Patel arrives for a House Appropriations subcommittee hearing, May 7, in Washington, D.C. (Pete Kiehart/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

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Cornyn said the matter is “time-sensitive,” as the Texas Legislature is currently in special session called by Gov. Greg Abbott with just weeks remaining.

“The absence of a quorum prevents key votes on important areas of concern for Texans,” he wrote. “For example, the recent Kerrville floods, which caused unbearable tragedy and destruction, is just one issue that needs to be addressed in this legislative session.”

Abbott told Fox News’ Sean Hannity on Monday it was the gerrymandering in the blue states that “distorted” the politics in America.

“Donald Trump won all five of these seats that we will be making Republican seats,” Abbott said. “The same thing should apply in all those other states.”

Abbott filed an emergency petition in the Supreme Court of Texas on Tuesday seeking to remove ringleader Rep. Gene Wu, D-Texas, from office.

“I made clear in a formal statement on Sunday, August 3, that if the Texas House Democrats were not in attendance when the House reconvened at 3:00 PM on Monday, August 4, then action would be taken to seek their removal,” Abbott wrote in a statement. “They have not returned and have not met the quorum requirements. Representative Wu and the other Texas House Democrats have shown a willful refusal to return, and their absence for an indefinite period of time deprives the House of the quorum needed to meet and conduct business on behalf of Texans. Texas House Democrats abandoned their duty to Texans, and there must be consequences.” 

The lawsuit also accuses Wu and other Texas House Democrats of soliciting and receiving benefits in exchange for skipping a vote, supporting their removal from office and allegations of bribery.

WATCH: HOCHUL CLAIMS ‘INSURRECTION’ IN TEXAS:

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U.S. Rep. Kevin Kiley, R-Calif., announced he will introduce a bill that prohibits states from conducting more than one congressional redistricting after each decennial census and apportionment, unless required by a court to comply with constitutional or Voting Rights Act mandates. 

The redistricting legislation would nullify new maps adopted by states before the 2030 census, including any adopted this year.

“[California Gov.] Gavin Newsom is trying to override the will of voters and abolish the Citizens Redistricting Commission so he can impose his own hyper-partisan gerrymander intended to leave California Republicans with just three out of 52 seats in Congress,” Kiley wrote in a statement to Fox News Digital. “My bill will stop his corrupt scheme in its tracks.”

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The bill would not affect state or local election processes and will apply to redistricting after last November’s election.

Cornyn and Kiley’s offices did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. The FBI declined to comment.