Trump Says FBI May Track, Arrest Fleeing Texas Democrats

President Donald Trump has expressed support for the use of FBI agents to locate and potentially arrest Texas Democratic lawmakers who fled the state to block a GOP-backed redistricting plan that could add five congressional seats for Republicans. Texas Republican Sen. John Cornyn formally requested FBI assistance to aid state law enforcement in finding or arresting the Democrats, who are currently in blue states like Illinois, New York, and Massachusetts. Texas Governor Greg Abbott has ordered the Texas Department of Public Safety to arrest these lawmakers, who are being fined daily for their absence and face possible expulsion for abandoning their duties. Trump emphasized that the lawmakers must return and participate in the democratic process rather than avoiding the vote, framing the Democrats' actions as abandoning the state and criticized the optics of their refuge in liberal strongholds. Democrats argue that the redistricting plan is a form of gerrymandering that silences minority voters, while Republicans maintain the redistricting aligns with census data and voter preferences. The situation remains tense, with federal and state authorities seeking ways to enforce the return of the lawmakers and complete the redistricting vote.