After leaving Texas for Illinois to prevent a legislative vote on a Republican redistricting plan, state House Democratic leader Gene Wu needed a means to project his voice — and viewpoints — to a national audience. So he tapped his campaign account to buy a microphone for news conferences.

Texas' redistricting fight has escalated, with Democrats nationwide threatening to retaliate and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott ordering Democratic state lawmakers be arrested.

President Trump on Tuesday said the FBI “may have to” get involved in Texas Republican officials’ efforts to arrest state Democrats who fled Texas to delay the GOP-controlled legislature’s scheme to redraw congressional maps to benefit Republicans.

Dozens of Texas Democrats have left the state in a bid to block a vote on redrawn U.S. House maps sought by Trump.

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.