The chair of the Texas House Democratic caucus remained defiant Thursday in the face of one US senator’s bid to enlist the FBI’s help in returning him and his state House colleagues to the state.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott claims FBI is tracking down Democratic lawmakers who fled the state. Lawmakers who took money to help fund their absence from Texas could face prosecution, Abbott said. Experts question FBI's involvement in state politics.

S en. John Cornyn, a Texas Republican, said on Thursday that FBI Director Kash Patel has granted his request for the federal government to assist with locating Texas House Democrats who fled the state in protest of GOP-led redistricting efforts.