EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) sent a letter to FBI Director Kash Patel to investigate and hold Democratic legislators accountable after they recently fled Texas to prevent a vote on a controversial Republican-backed congressional redistricting plan.
“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.”
“Out-of-state actors have made public comments about protecting the Texas legislators who are currently hiding out of state from any accountability for their actions. 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. 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. 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.”
U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX)
The full letter is displayed below.
Democratic state representatives who represent El Paso, Vince Perez and Joe Moody, both spoke with KTSM 9 News on Monday after Governor Greg Abbott ordered Texas Department of Public Safety troopers to track down the lawmakers who fled the state and bring them to the Capitol.
While in Illinois, Perez told KTSM on Monday he is fighting the GOP redistricting effort from there. Perez is one the missing members who Gov. Greg Abbott said had to return to the chamber.
Moody told KTSM he did not join the other 50 Democrats who fled the state and decided to stay in Austin to “fight fascism.”
Rep. Claudia Ordaz, D-El Paso, explained to KTSM she was excused from the legislative session for a personal health matter. She pointed out in a statement that she stands in “full solidarity with my Democratic colleagues who have broken quorum to stop this shameless power grab. They are standing up for every Texan’s right to fair representation.”
Last month, U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas, shared her concerns on the redistricting, saying that it will negatively impact El Paso’s representation in Congress.
Abbott and fellow Republicans have also threatened to try to remove the Democrats from office if they don’t return to the Capitol.
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