FBI will help find Texas Democrats in gerrymandering fight

The FBI has agreed to track down runaway Texas Democrats who fled the state to block a partisan bill that would redraw the congressional map.

Sen. John Cornyn, Texas Republican, made the request earlier this week after the GOP-led Texas House voted to issue civil arrest warrants for Democrats who didn’t show up for legislative business. Their absence deprived the chamber of a quorum, preventing Republicans from advancing the redistricting bill.

“I am proud to announce that Director Kash Patel has approved my request for the FBI to assist state and local law enforcement in locating runaway Texas House Democrats,” Mr. Cornyn said. “We cannot allow these rogue legislators to avoid their constitutional responsibilities.”

More than 50 Texas House Democrats left the state on Sunday and are hiding out in Illinois, New York and Massachusetts.

Democrats said they plan to remain on the run until the state’s special legislative session ends in two weeks. By not showing up at the statehouse, Democrats will at least temporarily prevent Republicans from passing a new congressional map that will take away five districts currently represented by Democrats.

The civil arrest warrants that Republicans approved on Monday can be enforced only within Texas.

Mr. Cornyn’s request, agreed to by the FBI, puts federal law enforcement on the case, although it doesn’t appear it’s tasked with making arrests and will provide assistance only in locating the lawmakers.

The Democrats each face $500 daily fines for not showing up to work.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton are threatening to remove them from office by having state courts declare their seats vacant.