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.

WASHINGTON, Aug 7 (Reuters) - The FBI has agreed to help track down Democratic Texas lawmakers who fled their state to thwart Republican efforts to redraw congressional districts, Republican U.S. Senator John Cornyn said on Thursday, but it was unclear whether federal agents would take action.

Republicans had warned they would escalate efforts to end the nearly weeklong holdout if defiant Democrats do not return to the state Capitol. But the Democrats who bolted for points across the country on Aug.

Friday afternoon, members of the Texas House registered their attendance at the start of a scheduled session. The sound of a bell ringing filled the chamber as lights on the boards at the front of the room lit up,