Paxton launches investigation into Beto O’Rourke’s political group for funding Democrats who left state

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WASHINGTON — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has launched an investigation into whether Beto O’Rourke’s political group, Powered by People, and the George Soros-backed Texas Majority PAC are breaking laws by funding Texas Democrats’ out-of-state travel attempting to stop the passage of a new Republican-favored congressional map.

In a press release, Paxton alluded to The Texas Tribune’s reporting on Tuesday that O’Rourke’s group is funding the travel and that Texas Majority PAC is playing a coordinating role in soliciting donations from deep-pocketed party donors. The efforts aim to cover the expenses of dozens of Democratic lawmakers who left the state Sunday to shut down the Legislature by depriving the House of a quorum, or the minimum number of members needed to conduct business.

The attorney general accused the organizations of running a financial influence scheme that convinced Texas Democrats to leave the state, and vowed to investigate “any Democrat coward breaking the law.”

He is using a statute called “request to examine” to demand documents and communications from the organizations. While the legal tool has come under scrutiny, the Texas Supreme Court defended its use in a ruling earlier this year.

These Democrats, Paxton’s office said, may be breaking Texas law, alleging violations of unspecified statutes relating to campaign expenditures, coercion of public officials and abuse of office.

In a statement, O’Rourke brushed off the investigation.

“The guy impeached for bribery is going after the folks trying to stop the theft of five Congressional seats,” he said, before encouraging people to donate to his political group. “Let’s stop these thugs before they steal our country.”

Katherine Fischer, executive director of Texas Majority PAC, was defiant in response to the investigation, calling it a "sham” and adding, “Ken Paxton — who was impeached for bribery — and Greg Abbott have bent the knee to D.C. and failed the people of Texas.”

The Texas House Democratic Caucus declined to comment.

On Friday, Paxton also announced he was suing O’Rourke and Powered by People for providing financial support to the Democrats while they are out of state. The lawsuit, filed in a Tarrant County district court, said the group was “intentionally blurring the dichotomy between political and personal funds in a deceptive and confusing manner to take advantage of donors.” Additionally, he asked the Texas Supreme Court to expel 13 absent Democrats from the state House, arguing they had effectively abandoned their offices by leaving the state.

A Tarrant County judge granted Paxton’s motion Friday evening to bar O’Rourke from financially supporting the Democrats who left Texas.

O’Rourke filed his own lawsuit against Paxton in El Paso district court, saying the Republican was “bluntly using the vast power of the Attorney General’s office to effectuate a fishing expedition, constitutional rights be damned.” He asked a judge to block Paxton from investigating him or Powered by People, and to rule that Paxton violated both the U.S. and Texas constitutions in initiating the case in the first place.

Paxton investigations and lawsuits are just the latest developments in Texas Republican leaders' efforts to punish the absconding Democrats and restore a quorum. House Speaker Dustin Burrows signed arrest warrants for the lawmakers, enabling state troopers to find them and compel their attendance should they step foot back in the state.

Gov. Greg Abbott directed the Texas Rangers to investigate “Texas House Democrats for potential bribery and any other potential legal violations connected to their refusal to appear for a quorum.” Abbott on Tuesday also asked the Texas Supreme Court to declare House Democratic leader Gene Wu’s seat vacant.

Sen. John Cornyn, meanwhile, sent a letter to FBI Director Kash Patel, requesting the bureau track down and probe lawmakers “who solicited or accepted funds to aid in their efforts to avoid their legislative duties.”

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