The FBI has agreed to assist Texas state authorities in locating the Democratic lawmakers who left the state to block a controversial Republican-led redistricting vote, according to Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas. It remains unclear whether federal agents will take any enforcement action.

As of Thursday afternoon, the bureau had not commented on the arrangement.

In a statement Thursday, Cornyn said FBI Director Kash Patel approved his request to help with “locating runaway Texas House Democrats,” adding, “We cannot allow these rogue legislators to avoid their constitutional responsibilities.”

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Democratic leaders swiftly denounced the announcement as an abuse of federal power. Former Rep. Colin Allred, now running for Senate in Texas, said the move was “about silencing dissent and wea

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