The Republican lawmaker confronted backlash following initial reports emerged on social media that he experienced jetsetted to Cancun regardless of the common disaster in Texas, but he defended himself in a assertion Thursday afternoon stating it was a trip for his two daughters, Caroline and Catherine, and their pals.
“This has been an infuriating 7 days for Texans…Like thousands and thousands of Texans, our family members missing heat and electric power as well,’ Cruz reported in a statement with ABC Information.
“With school cancelled for the week, our girls requested to take a trip with close friends. Seeking to be a great father, I flew down with them very last night time and am flying back again this afternoon,” he explained.
“My staff and I are in constant conversation with point out and community leaders to get to the base of what happened in Texas. We want our electricity back again, our water on, and our households heat. My team and I will keep on utilizing all our resources to maintain Texans informed and risk-free,” Cruz additional.
Cruz was initially scheduled to return to Texas on Saturday with his family, but improved his reservation in the early morning to return this evening, according to a supply common with his journey agenda.
Cruz’s office told ABC News the senator was tested this early morning for COVID-19 to comply with the new mandate demanding citizens to existing a adverse exam ahead of traveling to the United States.
Cruz headed to Cancun, Mexico, for a extensive-prepared spouse and children trip, many media outlets experienced documented, which includes The Related Press, CNN and Fox Information.
The Houston Police Section confirmed to ABC Information that Cruz’s employees contacted police personnel on Wednesday requesting help on the senator’s arrival at the George Bush Intercontinental Airport, however they did not specify what sort of assistance.
Law enforcement claimed he arrived at Terminal E and officers “monitored his movements” via the terminal.
Critics slammed the senator on Twitter after images emerged on social media of a male who seems to be Cruz aboard a aircraft.
The Lone Star state is in the midst of a disaster in the wake of a powerful storm that begun Sunday, producing common electric power outages and burst pipes. Virtually 500,000 customers in Texas remained with no power Thursday morning.
Gov. Greg Abbott prevented commenting on Cruz’s journey declaring, “I have not been pursuing people’s vacation’s programs.”
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner reported, “Well it’s surely a lot warmer exactly where he is likely” when requested about Cruz’s vacation all through a press convention Thursday.
“My job is to remain right here right up until the condition is fixed so which is it you know, I am gonna allow the senator speak for the senator,” he included.
“That is a thing that he has to reply to his constituents about,” condition Republican Celebration Chairman Allen West claimed to the AP on his travel. “I’m listed here seeking to get care of my spouse and children and appear just after my good friends and many others that are however with no electricity.”
Texas Democrats referred to as on Cruz to resign for seemingly abandoning his constituents in the midst of the storm.
Texas Democratic Party chairman Gilberto Hinojosa mentioned, “Ted Cruz jetting off to Mexico whilst Texans keep on being dying in the cold just isn’t astonishing but it is deeply disturbing and disappointing.”
“The Texas Democratic Get together calls on Ted Cruz to resign or be expelled from office environment… We must restore ethics, competence, and a governing administration that will work for the people today,” the team stated in a assertion.
Just on Monday Cruz had urged inhabitants to continue to be residence in a radio interview that was shared on YouTube by his office in which he said: “So don’t possibility it. Hold your family secure and just keep house and hug your young children.”
1 working day afterwards, Cruz issued a community apology on Twitter following an aged tweet of his from August resurfaced, in which he castigated California’s “unsuccessful energy guidelines” and mocked their electric power grid process.
This week’s wintertime storm has also pushed Texas’ grid method to the limit and resulted in tens of millions remaining remaining without energy on Wednesday.
“I have no defense,” he wrote apologetically. “A blizzard strikes Texas & our condition shuts down. Not good.”
In December Cruz eviscerated Austin Mayor Steve Adler as a “hypocrite” for vacationing in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, throughout the pandemic just after he informed people to continue to be house.
ABC News’ Mariam Khan and Benjamin Siegel contributed to this report.
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