Senator Ted Cruz returns to storm-hit Texas after Cancun holiday uproar
- Texas senator faced fierce criticism after he flew to a Mexican holiday resort
- Millions of people in Texas struggle without power or water due to winter storm
Senator Ted Cruz returned to Texas after coming under harsh criticism for flying to Cancun, Mexico with his family while the state he represents is dealing with widespread power outages in the wake of a historic winter storm.
The Republican arrived at the airport on Thursday afternoon after flying to the Mexican resort city the day before.
“With school cancelled for the week, our girls asked to take a trip with friends. Wanting to be a good dad, I flew down with them last night and am flying back this afternoon,” Cruz said in a statement earlier in the day. “My staff and I are in constant communication with state and local leaders to get to the bottom of what happened in Texas.”
Cruz’s statement came many hours after pictures of him at Houston’s Bush Intercontinental Airport circulated on social media, and after Houston Police confirmed that Cruz’s staff had asked for department’s help at his departure Wednesday.
The trip triggered outrage and criticism from Democrats as about 500,000 homes and businesses in Texas remained without electricity Thursday morning after a severe winter storm pummelled the state for days. That’s down from more than 3 million on Wednesday.