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Democrat Illinois Gov. JB Pretzker said Wednesday that the FBI was “unwelcome” to chase after Texas legislators who fled to his hometown to stall the vote for the rezoning.
In an interview with “News Note Noise with Jessica Yellin,” Pritzker argued that the FBI has no jurisdiction because Texas lawmakers have not violated federal law. R-Texas Sen. John Cornyn wrote to FBI director Kash Patel earlier this week, asking the bureau earlier this week to “seek or arrest “potential law violators” who fled Texas in manipulation to avoid legislative liability in violation of their job statements.
“They are epic. There’s literally no federal law applicable to this situation. There’s nothing,” Pretzker told Podcasters on Wednesday. “You can say they’re sending the FBI. FBI agents come in and I don’t know, post the show. But our local law enforcement protects everyone in Illinois. Our state troopers protect anyone in Illinois, anyone in Illinois. That the state legislators here, Texas legislators could be arrested.”
Colbert stands up to JB Pretzker on a map showing Gerrymandering, Illinois
Illinois Governor JB Pretzker will speak at a press conference with the Texas Democrats, who left the state in protest in Aurora, Illinois on August 5, 2025. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)
Pretzker categorized Cornyn’s plea into political theatre, noting that Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is challenging his U.S. Senate seat. The Illinois Governor also swiped on President Donald Trump and Texas Governor Greg Abbott.
“We follow the law,” Pretzker said. “But as you know, Donald Trump doesn’t follow the law. In fact, he’s a convicted felon. And in Texas, they don’t follow the law either. They’re blocking the constitution with the voting rights law. Of course, John Cornyn is fighting Ken Paxton and holds his seat for the US Senator, so they’re fighting. As a result of that argument, and Abbott is just as heavy. This is really about politics.”
Abbott has called a special session to work forward with plans to rezone the legislature, which will allow five new Republican-leaning home seats to be added before mid-term next year.
Trump is urging Republican states to open up a mid-cycle rezoning process to give GOPs a better chance to maintain control of the home in the 2026 midterm elections. In Texas, more than 50 Democrats fled the state earlier this month, and at least 100 members of the 150 members must be present to prevent the required quorum at Texas homes.
Texas lawmakers will be on the bus following a press conference at DuPage County Democratic Headquarters held in Carol Stream, Illinois on August 3, 2025. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)
Watch: Trump says the FBI might need to help Texas close out AWOL DEM lawmakers
California’s government Gavin Newsmu and New York Governor Kathy Hochul praised Gridlock as a fight to provide sanctuary to Texas Democrats and save democracy. Both Newsom and Hochul vowed to “fight against fire and fire.”
Meanwhile, a Texas Republican voted to issue a private arrest warrant and a $500 fine daily to a Democrat colleague who abandoned his duties.
Trump told reporters Tuesday that the FBI “has to intervene.”
President Donald Trump speaks to reporters after signing an executive order at a ceremony at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on August 5, 2025 (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
In a telephone interview on CNBC’s “The Squawk Box,” Trump argued that Republicans would do the same as democracies, including Massachusetts, California and Illinois, are already pushing their districts to benefit their party.
“Perhaps the stupidest of all governors, Illinois, Illinois. That guy is really sending. I mean, the business is flowing out of his condition. That’s awful. What Pretzker is doing. He knows, he was a black sheep of the family. “But in Illinois, what happened is, what they’re doing is awful. You realize you’re going to Illinois for safety. But it’s all gerrymandering.”
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“There was a California gerrymander,” the president continued. “We should have more seats in the California Congress. It’s all gerrymanders. And we have the opportunity to pick up five seats in Texas. We have a really good governor, we have a good guy in Texas. And I got the best votes in Texas history.
Daniel Wallace is a news and political reporter for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to danielle.wallace@fox.com and to X:@danimwallace.
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