Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) announced this week that he has launched a formal investigation into Powered by People, the political organization founded by former U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D), over allegations it illegally funded Texas House Democrats’ recent quorum-breaking exodus.
Attorney General Paxton’s office claims the group may have engaged in “an illegal financial influence scheme to bribe runaway Democrats who fled Texas” to block GOP-backed legislation.
“Any Democrat coward breaking the law by taking a Beto Bribe will be held accountable,” Attorney General Paxton said in a statement. “Texas cannot be bought. I look forward to thoroughly reviewing all of the documents and communications obtained throughout this investigation.”
Numerous Democratic lawmakers left Texas over the weekend, traveling to Washington, D.C., to deny Republicans the quorum needed to pass voting legislation.
According to the attorney general, Powered by People has been “one of the top groups bankrolling the Texas House Democrat members who abandoned Texans and vacated their offices.”
By providing financial support to lawmakers during their trip, the attorney general’s office said the group “may have violated bribery laws” as well as other statutes, including those related to campaign or officeholder contributions, coercion of a public servant, and abuse of office.
Attorney General Paxton’s office has issued a Request to Examine, demanding documents and communications from Powered by People regarding its role in the walkout. He also warned of “aggressive legal action” against Democrats who fail to return to the House floor by the Speaker’s deadline on Friday.
“These jet-setting runaways have already lost public trust by abandoning our state,” Attorney General Paxton said. “Texans deserve to know if they received illegal bribes to do it.”
Former Rep. O’Rourke and Powered by People have not officially responded to the claims, but the Democratic lawmakers have made it clear that they are not bothered by the threats.
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