Ted Cruz travels to Cancun, Mexico, because Texans are out of power amid a historic winter storm

“As the school was canceled for the week, our girls asked to take a trip with friends. Because I wanted to be a good dad, I flew with them last night and fly back this afternoon,” he said in the statement. “My staff and I are in constant communication with state and local leaders to get to the bottom of what happened in Texas. We want our power back, our water on and our homes warm. My team and I will already Continue to use our resources to keep Texans informed and safe. “

Cruz tested negative for Covid-19 before returning, an assistant told CNN.

His statement came hours after multiple Twitter users posted photos showing Cruz and his family at the Houston airport and aboard a flight bound for Cancun, Mexico.

A source familiar with the situation told CNN that some of the senator’s senior aides were unaware that he was flying to Mexico until the photos surfaced on social media and questions came in at the office.

It’s one of the reasons they weren’t ready with an explanation for hours.

The trip was immediately criticized, including by Texas State Representative. Gene Wu, a Democrat representing southwest Houston, who tweeted a photo of Cruz aboard a flight, saying that Cruz flew south “while the state was freezing and boiling water.”

Cruz’s office also asked Houston police to assist the senator during his departure from Bush Intercontinental Airport on Wednesday, Houston police chief Art Acevedo told CNN on Thursday.

Police’s request from Cruz’s office is not uncommon, as members of Congress have been advised by police to seek police assistance during their air travel.

Congress will not meet this week after the president’s holiday.

Cruz, who retweeted news about electricity and Texas governor Greg Abbott on Wednesday, was silent on social media on Thursday.

As an elected official to federal office, Cruz has no on-site role in the response to the storm, but natural disasters are often a time when voters often reach out to their elected officials for help and access to resources. .

Abbott said Wednesday afternoon that he had spoken with both the lieutenant governor and the state speaker and that an investigation into ERCOT is scheduled for next week.

But in the meantime, millions of Texans were left without power or running water in the aftermath of the storm. Power is slowly being restored to homes.

According to a CNN count, 16 Texans have died from the extreme weather since last Thursday.

This story has been updated with additional developments.