Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) is calling on FBI agents to refuse participation in efforts to track down Texas Democrats who left the state to block a GOP-led mid-decade redistricting. His demand sets up a direct clash over the FBI’s role and the limits of executive authority.
Key Facts:
- Rep. Jamie Raskin urged FBI agents not to assist in locating Texas Democrats who fled the state to block a redistricting plan.
- Raskin said the FBI has “no legal authority” to pursue lawmakers who haven’t broken federal law.
- Texas Democrats left for states like Illinois and California to halt a GOP congressional map they view as gerrymandering.
- Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) claims FBI Director Kash Patel approved federal assistance in returning the lawmakers.
- President Trump and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott support FBI involvement in the dispute.
The Rest of The Story:
The dispute began when Texas Democrats left the state to deny Republicans the quorum needed to pass a new congressional map. The proposed map is widely viewed by Democrats as engineered to secure GOP dominance in the state’s House delegation for the next election cycle.
Raskin, the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, said in a statement that the FBI should not “operate at the beck and call of President Trump” or engage in “political harassment and persecution.” He argued there is no federal law justifying pursuit of the lawmakers.
Sen. John Cornyn claimed that FBI Director Kash Patel approved his request to help return the Democrats to Texas, though it remains unclear if the bureau has acted on that request. Republicans say federal assistance is warranted, while Democrats argue it would be a misuse of federal power.
The Texas House issued civil arrest warrants for the absent Democrats, but those warrants only carry force within Texas. As a result, the lawmakers have remained outside the state, pledging to continue their resistance to the redistricting plan.
Similar redistricting battles are unfolding across the country. While Republicans target states like Florida and Indiana for map adjustments, Democratic strongholds such as California and New York are exploring redraws that could offset GOP gains.
Commentary:
What Raskin is calling for amounts to asking the FBI to ignore a lawful order from the president and essentially mutiny. The idea that individual agents should decide which orders to follow based on political preference is not only dangerous—it’s unconstitutional.
The FBI operates under the executive branch, and its director serves at the pleasure of the president. Refusing a direct order from the president in a matter where jurisdiction is claimed would set a precedent that undermines the chain of command.
Moreover, with Kash Patel as director and Dan Bongino reportedly playing a major leadership role, there is virtually zero chance the FBI would refuse to comply. Both men are staunch supporters of the president’s agenda and unlikely to concede to political pressure from congressional Democrats.
Raskin’s argument that tracking down lawmakers would politicize the FBI rings hollow given the last several years. Under Democratic leadership, the bureau has been involved in numerous politically charged actions, from the handling of the Clinton email investigation to the Trump-Russia probe.
Calling this potential operation “political harassment” ignores the broader reality that law enforcement frequently assists in interstate matters when requested by lawful authorities. The real question here is whether the FBI’s jurisdiction applies—not whether politics should be a factor.
If the agency has authority under federal law or an interstate compact, executing such an order would be standard procedure. If it lacks authority, the issue becomes legal, not political. That’s how this should be argued—not by urging federal agents to refuse lawful orders outright.
This fight also underscores the partisan arms race in redistricting. Democrats are no strangers to using aggressive map-drawing tactics in their stronghold states, so the moral outrage over Texas’s plan is selective.
Ultimately, framing this as a fight to “save democracy” while urging a federal agency to ignore the executive branch only deepens public distrust. Both parties should be held to the same constitutional standards, whether in Texas, California, or anywhere else.
The Bottom Line:
Raskin’s call for FBI personnel to defy presidential orders is unprecedented in its directness and raises serious constitutional questions. With GOP-aligned leadership at the bureau, such defiance is unlikely. The redistricting fight in Texas is just one front in a nationwide political battle, and both parties are playing hardball in states they control.
This clash is less about legal authority and more about political optics, with each side preparing for midterm elections where control of Congress is at stake. The outcome could shape how far federal agencies can be pushed into state-level political disputes.
