Texas Democrat Defends Funding for Lawmakers’ Exile

Texas Democrat Senator John Bryant defended the allocation of funds used by lawmakers who left the state during a recent interview. Bryant was among the 51 Democratic representatives who left to block Republican-supported votes. In the interview, he spoke with Amber Duke from the Daily Caller, co-hosted by Lindsay Granger, who pressed him to clarify the funding sources for the Democratic exodus.

Duke raised concerns about possible violations of federal bribery law, referencing claims made by Senator John Cornyn that external groups might be financing their expenses. “Could I confirm if outside organizations are covering hotels and other costs?” she asked.

Bryant firmly stated that the funds supporting their actions were obtained through legitimate means, arguing against the accusations from Cornyn. “All the money we’ve gathered was raised through the usual channels of the House Democrats’ Caucus,” he stated. He painted Cornyn’s comments as desperate attempts to secure his position in the Republican primary against the state attorney general.

“In the 21st century, it seems the Republican party has evolved into a group that spreads misinformation. Such claims are intended to undermine our efforts,” he said, emphasizing their goal to prevent figures like Cornyn and Donald Trump from gaining control after the 2026 elections.

According to the Texas Tribune, notable figures like Beto O’Rourke and George Soros are allegedly funding the Democrats’ protest against Republican initiatives. Following the developments, Cornyn revealed that the FBI would assist in tracking down absent lawmakers.

Duke questioned Bryant about the motivations behind choosing Illinois as their refuge, pointing out that it is known for Democratic gerrymandering. “Was it a bit of a PR blunder to pick that state?” she asked.

Bryant then responded that he was unaware of the specific constituencies and context of other states. “We made our choice based on where it would be tough to bring us back,” he explained. “The goal was to effectively avoid a quorum, without really considering Illinois’ legislative landscape.”

Duke pressed him further about whether they had seen a map of Illinois’ districts, to which Bryant criticized the situation in Texas. “You should see how our districts are drawn. They often look like someone just splattered mud on a wall,” he remarked.

Attorney General Ken Paxton criticized the fleeing Democrats, suggesting they were obstructing the constitutional process and took steps to issue arrest warrants for over 50 of them after their absence from voting in the House.

Following this, Daily Caller reached out to Cornyn for comments and were redirected to a previous post where the senator expressed gratitude to Trump while critiquing the lawmakers’ actions.