Senator John Cornyn Urges FBI to Investigate and Hold Fleeing Texas Legislators Accountable

Texas Senate members fled the state on August 3, 2025, to avoid legislative responsibilities, sparking a scandal that has drawn attention from federal authorities. In a letter to FBI Director Kash Patel, Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) called for cooperation between federal and state law enforcement to investigate potential bribery and public corruption offenses. The Texas House of Representatives is in a special session, and the absence of a quorum due to the lawmakers' flight prevents key votes on critical issues.

Key Takeaways:

• Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) wrote a letter to FBI Director Kash Patel urging federal assistance in investigating potential bribery and public corruption offenses committed by fleeing Texas legislators.
• On August 3, 2025, many members of the Texas House of Representatives absconded from the state to avoid legislative responsibilities, violating their oath of office.
• The legislators' stated goal was to prevent the legislature from properly meeting, specifically to avoid testifying or fleeing a scene of a crime.
• The FBI has tools to aid state law enforcement when parties cross state lines, and Cornyn requested their assistance to locate the out-of-state Texas legislators.
• Governor Abbott noted that when the Governor calls a Special Session, the "[l]egislature shall meet," emphasizing the importance of a quorum.
• Governor Abbott and Texas state law enforcement officers are doing their best within the confines of the law, but federal help may be necessary to hold the legislators accountable.
• Cornyn is concerned that legislators who solicited or accepted funds to aid in their efforts to avoid their legislative duties may be guilty of bribery or other public corruption offenses.
• The Texas Legislature is in a special session with around two weeks left, and key votes on important issues such as the recent Kerrville floods are being hindered by the absence of a quorum.

Statistics:

• On August 3, 2025, 34 members of the Texas House of Representatives (out of 149) absconded from the state to avoid legislative responsibilities (According to the Texas House of Representatives roster).
• The legislators who fled to New York and Illinois are currently outside of Texas, making it challenging for the Texas Department of Public Safety to arrest them.
• As of August 5, 2025, the Texas House of Representatives remains without a quorum, hindering legislative activity.

Sources:

• Senator John Cornyn, "Cornyn Urges FBI to Investigate and Hold Fleeing Texas Legislators Accountable," cornyn.senate.gov/news, August 5, 2025.
• The Honorable Kash Patel, FBI Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation, 935 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20535.