Trump says FBI ‘may have to’ arrest fleeing Texas Democrats
Former President Donald Trump stated that the FBI “may have to” intervene adn potentially arrest Texas Democrats who fled the state to prevent a Republican-led redistricting vote by denying a quorum. These Democrats have taken refuge in blue states such as Illinois, New York, and Massachusetts to stall a new congressional map that could grant Republicans five additional seats starting in 2026. Texas Republicans, including Senator john Cornyn and governor Greg Abbott, have urged law enforcement and the FBI to locate and arrest the absent Democrats, emphasizing the urgency and licensing potential federal involvement due to the lawmakers’ out-of-state status. Simultaneously occurring, Democratic leaders in host states, like Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, have expressed support for the Texas Democrats, praising thier efforts to “save democracy.” The standoff centers on accusations of gerrymandering and political maneuvering, with the Democrats pledging to remain out of Texas at least until the special session ends on August 19. Trump has expressed confidence that the new map will help Republicans gain congressional seats and further reshape the political landscape in Texas.
Trump says FBI ‘may have to’ arrest Texas Democrats who fled state over redistricting plans
President Donald Trump said the FBI “may have to” get involved to potentially arrest the Texas Democrats who refuse to grant their state’s Republicans a quorum for a redistricting vote.
Texas House Democrats have taken refuge in blue states such as Illinois, New York, and Massachusetts to stall a new map proposed by the Texas legislature that could grant Republicans five more congressional seats in 2026.
Trump said it looked like the Democrats had “abandoned the state” when asked if the FBI should get involved and arrest them. “[The FBI] may have to [get involved]. I know they want them back. Not only the attorney general, the governor wants them back. The governor of Texas is demanding they come back. Lot of people demanding they come back.”
“You can’t just sit it out. You have to go back, you have to fight it out. That’s what elections are all about,” Trump added.
Trump say the FBI “may have to” arrest Texas Democrats who broke quorum pic.twitter.com/xAsCMKdDX4
— Acyn (@Acyn) August 5, 2025
“I write to encourage the FBI to take any appropriate steps to aid in Texas state law enforcement efforts to locate or arrest potential lawbreakers who have fled the state,” Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) wrote to FBI Director Kash Patel earlier Tuesday.
Cornyn detailed that the Texas Department of Public Safety needs support to arrest the lawmakers given their out-of-state status. He said it was a “time-sensitive matter.”
If Trump directs the FBI to get involved, the lawmakers could face immediate consequences given the agency’s federal jurisdiction. Texas, while they have threatened to arrest the lawmakers, has little power while the Democrats are staying in other states.
Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) has threatened the lawmakers with arrest and expulsion from their elected offices if they do not return and grant Republicans a quorum. The map’s approval will be delayed until they come back.
“Texas Democrats abandoned their duties and fled to blue states with gross gerrymandering that has distorted our country’s politics,” he wrote in a post on X. “That must change. In Texas, we’ll make sure voters can elect the candidate of their choice.”
Gov. JB Pritzker (D-IL) stood alongside the lawmakers Tuesday and pledged to back them.
“The state of Illinois is proud to stand side by side with these brave, Texas Democrat heroes in the battle to save our democracy,” Pritzker said at the press conference.
Texas state Rep. Lulu Flores said that they “plan to stay as long as it takes,” which may be until the special session ends on Aug. 19. “That’s the very least time that we expect to be out here,” she said.
TEXAS DEMOCRATS PLAN TO STAY IN ILLINOIS TO THWART GOP REDISTRICTING EFFORT
Pritzker’s and other governors’ harboring of the Texas Democrats is part of the common Democratic response to the GOP’s redistricting efforts. If the Texas plan goes through, Democrats have threatened to respond with redistricting efforts of their own.
Trump previously said he expects to pick up five seats in Texas with a new congressional map.
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