Sen. 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.

An administration official told NBC News this week that there were no plans to use federal agents to arrest Texas lawmakers who left the state.

The Maryland Democrat said the agency "has no legal authority to track down state legislators who are breaking no federal laws."