AUSTIN – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) released the following statement today praising the Texas Legislature for its work and Governor Greg Abbott for signing a new congressional map into law after a group of state legislators had previously fled the state in an attempt to thwart the legislative process:

“Today’s enactment of the new congressional map as part of Governor Abbott’s special session agenda is a big win for Texas, bringing us closer to more adequately representing Republican voting strength amongst Texans in every corner of our great state,” said Sen. Cornyn. “Thank you to Governor Abbott, Lieutenant Governor Patrick, and Speaker Burrows for their relentless fight to bring rogue Democrats back to Austin to push this redistricting plan forward and get it over the finish line. I have requested that Attorney General Bondi investigate the organizations and individuals who helped fund Democrats’ mass exodus from the state earlier this month in a failed effort to thwart the legislative process.”

Background:

Earlier this month, Sen. Cornyn sent a letter to FBI Director Kash Patel encouraging federal cooperation with Texas Governor Greg Abbott and state law enforcement to investigate potential criminal acts, including bribery, and hold accountable legislators who fled the state in a shameful attempt to stall the legislative process in the Texas House of Representatives. The full text of the letter is available here.

Sen. Cornyn also called on the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate potential violations of federal public corruption and election law by Political Action Committees (PACs) – such as Beto O’Rourke’s Powered By People – special interest groups, and individuals who have provided funding and assistance to members of the Texas House of Representatives who fled. The full text of the letter is available here.