‘CRIMINAL acts’: Kash Patel gets asked to help Texas track down and arrest fugitive Democrat lawmakers
FBI Director Kash Patel, along with federal law-enforcement resources, has been enlisted to help state authorities track down and arrest Democrat Texas lawmakers who’ve fled to Illinois to prevent the Republican-controlled legislature from approving a redistricting plan that favors the GOP.
As reported by the Gateway Pundit, Texas U.S. Sen. John Cornyn Monday sent a letter to Patel, urging the FBI to deploy federal resources to assist in the Democrats’ arrest.
“I have asked FBI Director Kash to work with Greg Abbott & 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 on X.
Wrote Cornyn in his letter: “As a maneuver to avoid legislative responsibilities, on August 3, 2025, many members in the Texas House of Representatives absconded from the state.
“Their stated goal was to prevent the legislature from properly meeting, in violation of their oath of office. By leaving the State of Texas, these legislators intend to prevent the existence of a quorum in the Texas House of Representatives. Without a quorum, no legislative activity can proceed.”
The new Trump-approved map under consideration in a special legislative session redraws the state’s congressional district in a way that likely would mean five additional Republican seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton released a fiery statement Monday condemning Democrat lawmakers who fled the state in a coordinated effort to derail the Texas Legislature and vowed to arrest them.
“I am prepared to do everything in my power to hold them accountable because these liberal lawmakers are not above the law,” said Paxton. “It’s imperative that they be swiftly arrested, punished, and face the full force of the law for turning their backs on the people of Texas.”
The process of denying quorum has been used in multiple states and by both parties as a means of stalling or quashing legislation proposed by the majority party.
WATCH: Texas House votes to arrest AWOL Dems hiding out in blue states