Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) has launched an investigation into whether former Rep. Beto O’Rourke’s (D-Texas) political group is breaking laws by allegedly “bankrolling” the out-of-state travel of Democrats attempting to stop the passage of the newly proposed GOP-favored congressional maps.
Paxton, in a Wednesday press release, said Powered by People, a group led by O’Rourke, may have violated bribery laws. He added that O’Rourke’s group and the Texas Democrats who fled the state may have also “violated other Texas laws, including, but not limited to, those governing campaign or officeholder contributions and expenditures, coercion of a public servant, and abuse of office.”
“I just launched an investigation into Beto O’Rourke’s radical group for unlawfully funding runaway Democrats,” Paxton said in a post on X announcing the investigation.
“Any Democrat coward breaking the law by taking a Beto Bribe will be held accountable,” he added.
On Tuesday, the Texas Tribune reported that Power by People has been one of the top funders covering the costs of the Texas lawmakers who have left the state.
In response to Paxton’s investigation, O’Rourke encouraged people to sign up for text notifications from his group.
“The guy impeached for bribery is going after the folks trying to stop the theft of five Congressional seats. I encourage everyone to text FIGHT to 20377. Let’s stop these thugs before they steal our country,” O’Rourke said in a post on X.
As part of the investigation, Paxton has issued a request for “documents and communications from the group regarding potentially unlawful activity, including its involvement in the Democrats’ scheme to break quorum.”
“Attorney General Paxton has announced that he will take aggressive legal action against runaway Democrats who do not present themselves before the House by the Speaker’s deadline of Friday,” the press release read.
Several Republicans are calling for the FBI’s involvement after the Democrats left the state on Sunday to block Republicans from passing a new map that would offer the Texas GOP five additional pickup opportunities in the House. Trump said Tuesday the FBI may need to get involved.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) Paxton have called for the lawmakers who fled to be arrested, and Abbott has already started the process of trying to remove at least one Democrat from office.
