Illinois Governor JB Pritzker (D) dismissed suggestions that FBI agents could arrest Texas Democratic lawmakers who fled to Illinois to stall a controversial redistricting vote in their home state.
The lawmakers left Texas earlier this week to prevent a quorum during a special legislative session focused on a Republican-led redistricting plan. Their departure comes amid mounting political tension following catastrophic floods in central Texas in July that claimed over 100 lives.
Speaking at the Illinois State Fair, Pritzker criticized comments from Texas officials, including U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R) and Gov. Greg Abbott (R), who have urged federal involvement.
“This is a lot of grandstanding by the Trump administration, by John Cornyn, by Governor Abbott in Texas,” Pritzker said. “The reality is that... there is no federal law that allows them to arrest Texas Democrats who are here visiting the state of Illinois.”
Sen. Cornyn revealed that the FBI agreed to assist in locating the missing lawmakers. However, Pritzker emphasized that any such assistance would stop short of enforcement.
“I welcome the FBI coming to the state,” he said. “I hope they take in the State Fair. I hope they go see the beauty of Lake Michigan. But they won’t be arresting anyone.”
The Texas lawmakers’ move is aimed at halting a mid-decade redistricting proposal critics say would dilute minority voting power. Their absence deprives the Texas House of the quorum needed to vote on the measure.
While Texas law allows for the arrest of absent lawmakers within the state, that authority doesn’t extend to other states, making federal intervention legally limited.
As the standoff continues, Illinois appears unlikely to cooperate with any efforts to detain the visiting lawmakers.
