Texas Sen. John Cornyn on Thursday stated the FBI has agreed to assist monitor dozens of Texas Democrats who fled to Illinois and New York as they attempt to cease Texas Republicans from enacting new congressional maps that may give the GOP 5 extra seats.
The request units the stage for an escalation of a warfare between the Trump administration and Illinois Democrats, with Gov. JB Pritzker on the helm. Nevertheless it’s unclear what position federal brokers can play within the matter, and there have been no stories of FBI exercise within the space housing Texas Democrats as of Thursday morning. The FBI declined to touch upon the matter.
The Democratic governor on Thursday known as the FBI help “grandstanding” and stated federal brokers received’t be arresting anybody in Illinois, “as a result of there isn’t a U.S. federal legislation that prohibits these Texas Home Democrats from being right here within the state of Illinois.”
Cornyn made the request Wednesday, claiming the legislators “are doubtlessly in violation of the legislation.”
“Particularly, I’m involved that legislators who solicited or accepted funds to assist of their efforts to keep away from their legislative duties could also be responsible of bribery or different public corruption offenses,” Cornyn stated in a letter to FBI Director Kash Patel.
It’s unclear what federal legislation the Texas Democrats might have violated by fleeing to Illinois. In his letter this week, Cornyn pointed to civil warrants issued by the Texas Home of Representatives. He additionally appeared to reference violations of state felony legislation. No felony arrest warrants have been made public, however such paperwork might be filed beneath seal.
Both method, authorities would seemingly must carry the Texas Democrats earlier than a choose earlier than hauling them again to their dwelling state.
By Thursday, Cornyn stated Patel had accepted his request for FBI help.
Pritzker, who supplied up Illinois as a secure haven for dozens of Texas Democrats, has repeatedly stated the Democrats are usually not appearing in violation of federal legislation and has vowed to guard them.
Talking at an Illinois State Honest occasion in Springfield Thursday morning, Pritzker stated FBI brokers don’t have the authority to arrest the Democrats on any federal legislation violations.
“This can be a lot of grandstanding by the Trump administration, by John Cornyn, by Gov. Abbott in Texas. The truth is that each one that he has stated, Cornyn, is that the FBI has been licensed to find the Texas Home Democrats, nothing extra. And you understand why? As a result of there isn’t a federal legislation that permits them to arrest Texas Democrats who’re right here visiting the state of Illinois,” Pritzker stated.
“I welcome the FBI coming to the state,” Pritzker added. “I hope they take within the state truthful. I hope they go see the the great thing about Lake Michigan. Yeah, journey awaits for all of them, however they received’t be arresting anybody, as a result of there isn’t a U.S. federal legislation that prohibits these Texas Home Democrats from being right here within the state of Illinois.”
Pritzker on Tuesday stated “there’s no method” the lawmakers may be arrested, through federal legislation or by a civil arrest warrant issued in Texas.
“These folks haven’t damaged any federal legislation, and admittedly, within the state of Illinois we’re not going to allow them to get taken away,” Pritzker stated at an Aurora information convention alongside the Democrats on Tuesday. “We’re going to guard these Texas Home Democrats. The one factor that’s occurred is a civil warrant was issued by the Republican speaker of the Home in Texas as a way to take away the Democrats. And a civil warrant isn’t value something within the state of Illinois. So so long as they’re in Illinois, they’re secure.”
A bomb risk was reported Wednesday on the St. Charles lodge housing the Texas Democrats, however police searched the realm and located the declare to be unfounded.
“This morning, a risk was made in opposition to the security of the members of the Texas Home Democratic Caucus. We’re secure, we’re safe, and we’re undeterred and unintimidated,” Texas Democrats stated in an announcement.
Pritzker stated he was conscious of the risk in a submit on X.
“Threats of violence shall be investigated and people accountable shall be held accountable,” he wrote.
Contributing: Jon Seidel, Alex Degman
