Michael McAuliffe, former prosecutor and former state attorney, told Newsweek the FBI's involvement is "well beyond alarming."

The move to flee the state is part of a tactic to block a vote in the Texas House on redistricting. The proposal by Republicans would create five more Republican-leaning seats in the US House of Representatives, where the party holds a slim majority.

Texas House Democrats have been trying to widen the message of their decision to break quorum at the Legislature and halt efforts to pass a partisan gerrymander that would flip as many as five Democratic seats in Congress to Republican control. Here are five developments this week amid an ongoing battle for political advantage.