Blue Press Journal: In a shocking and widely condemned move, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) has asked the FBI to arrest Democratic state legislators who fled Texas to prevent the passage of a congressional map that would likely give the GOP a significant advantage in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Cornyn’s letter to the FBI, sent on Tuesday, demanded that the agency intervene to “locate or arrest potential lawbreakers” who have left the state, referring to the Democratic lawmakers who departed to block the Republican-led effort to redraw district lines. The proposed map, which is part of a broader effort to gerrymander congressional districts, would likely net the GOP five more U.S. House seats.
Constitutional law experts have slammed Cornyn’s request as “entirely unhinged” and “unconstitutional.” According to Robert Kreis, a legal expert, “They have not committed a crime. They are not fugitives. There’s no offense against the United States.” Kreis added that Cornyn’s request is an egregious example of a politician seeking to use federal power to silence and intimidate his opponents.
The proposed congressional map, which is rooted in the Trump administration’s policies, aims to reshape district lines in a way that would dismantle districts with Black and Latino majorities. The move is widely seen as a naked attempt to suppress minority voting power and entrench Republican dominance in the state.
Cornyn’s request has sparked outrage among civil rights advocates and Democrats, who argue that it represents a blatant abuse of power and a threat to the democratic process. “This is a chilling example of a senator using his office to intimidate and silence his opponents,” said one Democratic legislator. “It’s a clear attempt to undermine the rule of law and the principles of democracy.”
Blue Press Journal 