Cornyn presses FBI to help Texas bring back Democrats who left state
Cornyn sent a letter to FBI Director Kash Patel on Tuesday urging the agency to take 'any appropriate steps' to help law enforcement find or arrest the lawmakers who left the state to deny the state House quorum and prevent it from being able to conduct business in the special legislative session that Gov. Greg Abbott (R) called.
Since some Texas Democrats left for other states like Illinois and New York, Cornyn said the Texas Department of Public Safety may need help in tracking them down and arresting them. Abbott ordered their arrests on Monday after the state House was unable to conduct business, arguing they violated their oath of office.
Live updates: Texas Dems, GOP in showdown over redistricting
'In a representative democracy, we resolve our differences by debating and voting, not by running away,' Cornyn said.
'I request the FBI's assistance, as federal resources are necessary to locate the out-of-state Texas legislators who are potentially acting in violation of the law,' he said. 'The FBI has tools to aid state law enforcement when parties cross state lines, including to avoid testifying or fleeing a scene of a crime.'
Texas state law institutes a $500 fine per each day the lawmakers intentionally don't attend the special session. Abbott has also ordered an investigation into whether they have violated bribery laws in accepting assistance from others to cover the cost of the fines.
Cornyn echoed those bribery concerns. He said this matter is time-sensitive, as Abbott called a 30-day special session to vote on the new redistricting map, which could net Republicans five additional seats in the U.S. House in the 2026 midterms.
Cornyn didn't mention the redistricting effort in the letter but cited that the legislature needs to address the recent flooding that happened in Texas, which claimed more than 100 lives.
'These legislators have committed potential criminal acts in their rush to avoid their constitutional responsibilities and must be fully investigated and held accountable,' Cornyn told Patel. 'I urge you to work with Texas public officials to provide them the support they need.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Washington Post
26 minutes ago
- Washington Post
I'm a Republican who didn't vote for Trump. I was wrong.
I am a registered Republican. And like many others, I didn't vote for Donald Trump. His tone and rhetoric alarmed me. But in hindsight, much of what Trump has done, particularly in his foreign policy, has turned out to be effective. Realizing my mistake set me thinking about a question I've pondered my whole life: What does it mean to be smart?
Yahoo
28 minutes ago
- Yahoo
U.S. Rep. Messmer announces re-election bid in 8th District
U.S. Rep. Mark Messmer, a Jasper Republican, on Tuesday announced he is seeking re-election to the Indiana Eighth District seat in the U.S. House. President Donald Trump is endorsing Messmer's re-election campaign, the candidate said in a news release, quoting Trump as saying: 'Congressman Mark Messmer is a Fantastic Representative for the Great People of Indiana's 8th Congressional District!' Messmer, who won his first term in 2024, serves on the House Committee on Agriculture, House Armed Services Committee, and House Committee on Education and Workforce. The congressman said he is working with Trump in crucial areas to ensure Americans have a secure and prosperous future. He also said he is an advocate for making the Trump tax cuts permanent, supports the elimination of 'harmful and divisive policies like DEI,' and is working to increase opportunities for entrepreneurs and local farmers, according to his news release. Of his reasons for seeking office, Messmer said, 'We must be bold and unapologetic in fighting for the principles of the American Founding. We have a leader in the White House who is working every day for the American people and not special interests, and we need members in Congress who will fight with President Trump to make sure America continues to be an exceptional nation filled with promise for the next generation. I will work tirelessly in the days and weeks ahead to earn your vote and continue to fight for Indiana and our conservative principles in my next term.' The Eighth District, which includes Terre Haute, spans 21 southwestern Indiana counties and sprawls from the Ohio River to Interstate 74 in Fountain County and is considered solidly Republican. Mary Allen, an Evansville City Council member, on Monday announced her intent to run as a Democrat for the Eighth District seat. The primary elections in Indiana are Tuesday, May 5, 2026.
Fox News
28 minutes ago
- Fox News
Senate hopefuls jostle for high-stakes seat after Blackburn jumps into governor race
The horse race for the next open Senate seat in Tennessee is already kicking off after Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., announced a bid for the governorship earlier Wednesday. Tennessee Republican Reps. Andy Ogles and Tim Burchett both told Fox News Digital they're interested in Blackburn's seat. Ogles said, "Absolutely," when asked if he would consider a push for Congress' upper chamber. Burchett noted that any such situation was a "long ways off" but confirmed he was looking at it as well. Blackburn just won re-election for her second term in the U.S. Senate in the November 2024 cycle. If she ran for governor and won, Blackburn would have to vacate her seat – setting up a potential power vacuum in the Volunteer State. Tennessee law grants the governor the ability to appoint someone to fill Senate vacancies until the next regularly scheduled election. That means that if Blackburn leaves by 2026, her successor would be tapped to serve until 2031. Both Ogles and Burchett said they would be interested in running for the seat in the 2030 election cycle if appointed to the upper chamber. But it could very well be up to Blackburn to choose her successor, depending on when she hypothetically resigned from the Senate. Tennessee state law does not specify when she has to step down from the Senate, according to local outlet Knox News. If the vacancy occurred before Blackburn stepped down, the decision would likely fall to term-limited Gov. Bill Lee. But Lee could leave the decision to Blackburn if she resigned after being sworn in to take his place. "Trump is back, America is blessed, and Tennessee – better than ever," Blackburn said in a video announcing her campaign launch on Wednesday. "I love Tennessee, I believe in Tennesseans, and I'm ready to deliver the kind of conservative leadership that will ensure our state is America's conservative leader for this generation and the next. Her candidacy sets up a high-stakes GOP primary against her congressional colleague, Rep. John Rose. If she wins, Blackburn would be the first female governor of Tennessee.
