Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said Thursday that the FBI had agreed to his request to help track down dozens of Democratic Texas state lawmakers who left the state to prevent a vote on a redistricting plan.

The activation of federal agents could create a standoff between the Trump administration and state leaders in Illinois, where many of the absent Democrats have taken refuge.

It was not clear Thursday morning whether federal agents had actually taken action in the case or what role they might eventually play.

Gov. JB Pritzker has scoffed at the idea that federal agents could be deployed against the Texas lawmakers present in his state. On Wednesday, a day after Cornyn first proposed federal involvement, Pritzker said, "They're grandstanding." He added, "There literally is no federal law

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