Senator John Cornyn from Texas sent a letter on Tuesday to FBI Director Kash Patel. In his correspondence, he requested assistance from the Bureau in locating and apprehending Texas House Democrats who left the state on Sunday to impede voting efforts in their districts.
“I urged @fbidirectorkash to collaborate with @gregabbott_tx and Texas law enforcement to investigate possible criminal activities, including bribery, and to hold lawmakers accountable for their actions in trying to delay the legislative process in Texas,” Cornyn stated.
By leaving the state, these lawmakers effectively deprived the Texas House of a quorum, which means legislative activities can’t move forward. Unfortunately, we still didn’t reach quorum on Tuesday.
Cornyn pointed out that “typically in a democracy, differences are settled through dialogue and votes, not by evading responsibility.” Some lawmakers fled to New York, while others went to Illinois, creating a situation where the Texas Department of Public Safety might need help in arresting these officials.
He expressed concern over “outside influences” that have commented on providing protection to the absent Texas legislators. Cornyn warned that those who may have recruited support or accepted funds to evade their legislative duties could potentially face charges of bribery or public corruption.
The letter also touched on what Cornyn sees as time-sensitive issues the Texas Legislature must address—like the recent devastating floods in Kerrville. He emphasized the importance of returning to a quorum to tackle critical votes on matters important to the state.
Additionally, Governor Kathy Hochul recently confirmed that she would host Texas House Democrats at the New York State Capitol, framing it as a legal maneuver. She quoted John Lewis, saying, “sometimes you have to get into good trouble,” suggesting that the legislators are not acting alone in their efforts to resist legislation.
Cornyn concluded that Governor Abbott and Texas law enforcement are doing all they can under the law, but federal assistance may be necessary to address these challenges effectively. His office didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment, and the FBI chose not to provide a response.
