WATCH: Pritzker welcomes FBI looking for TX Dems in IL, dismisses bribery question

By Greg Bishop | The Center Square
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – As the FBI gets involved in locating Texas Democrats hiding out in states like Illinois, Gov. J.B. Pritzker says they are welcome, but the Democratic governor insists the absconding legislators aren’t breaking any federal law.

At the request of U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, the FBI on Thursday agreed to assist with locating Texas Democrats who fled the state to prevent the Texas House from reaching a quorum to change congressional district maps.

“I am proud to announce that Director Kash Patel has approved my request for the FBI to assist state and local law enforcement in locating runaway Texas House Democrats,” Cornyn said. “I thank President [Donald] Trump and Director Patel for supporting and swiftly acting on my call for the federal government to hold these supposed lawmakers accountable for fleeing Texas. We cannot allow these rogue legislators to avoid their constitutional responsibilities.”

After cutting the ribbon on the 2025 Illinois State Fair Thursday, Pritzker said the Texas Republicans are “grandstanding.” He said the FBI is only going to help locate the absconding Democrats.

“The reality is that all that he has said, Cornyn, is that the FBI has been authorized to locate the Texas House Democrats, nothing more,” Pritzker said. “And you know why? Because there is no federal law that allows them to arrest Texas Democrats who are here visiting the state of Illinois.”

Pritzker welcomed the FBI to Illinois.

“I hope they take in the State Fair. I hope they go see the beauty of Lake Michigan. Yeah. Adventure awaits, for all of them,” Pritzker said, playing off the fair’s theme “Adventure Awaits.” “But they won’t be arresting anyone because there is no U.S. federal law that prohibits those Texas House Democrats from being here in the state of Illinois.”

Dozens of the 50 Texas Democrats have been in Illinois since Sunday. Cornyn said he’s concerned that Texas legislators accepting funds to aid in their avoidance of legislative duties may be guilty of bribery or other public corruption.

Asked Thursday if the legislators accepting resources to avoid taking official action in Texas could cross the line into bribery, Pritzker dismissed the notion.

“Have you ever been forced to spend a lot of time away from your family and your job? I can just say these people are making enormous sacrifices,” Pritzker said. “They’re here because they’re fighting for democracy. And I’ve said that over and over again; we all ought to be supporting people who are standing up for our country, for our constitutional republic.”

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said any charges would come from county-level prosecutors.

“Ultimately, it’s up to local District Attorneys, most of these are Democratic District Attorneys by the way, for these Democrats to prosecute,” Paxton told Fox News. “I think it’s unlikely – a small probability.”

As to whether Illinois will change their congressional districts in response to Texas Republicans aiming to boost the GOP, Pritzker said Illinois has maps that were approved in 2021.

“That’s when they’re done. Right after a decennial census, and that’s when they should be done,” Pritzker said. “Not in the middle of a decade. Just because Donald Trump wants to change the math for 2026.”

But, Pritzker said if they have to, Illinois Democrats will look at “all of the options that are available.”

Illinois’ maps already are among the most gerrymandered in the country, favoring Democrats. Illinois holds 17 seats in Congress, with 14 of them filled by Democrats.

Bethany Blankley contributed to this story.

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