Beto O-Rourke
PoliticsTexas

Judge Blocks Beto’s Attempt To Funnel Cash To AWOL Texas Dems

RNN Staff

A Texas judge has halted former Rep. Beto O’Rourke’s bid to bankroll more than 50 Democratic state legislators who fled Texas to block a Republican-backed redistricting plan.

Late Friday, Tarrant County District Judge Megan Fahey issued a temporary restraining order preventing O’Rourke’s nonprofit, Powered by People, from using donated funds to cover the runaway Democrats’ travel, lodging, and fines. Fahey ruled that such spending violated state law so long as the legislators refused to attend the special session.

“Defendants have and will continue to engage in unlawful fundraising practices and utilization of political funds in a manner that either directly violates or causes Texas Democratic Legislators to violate the law,” Fahey wrote. “Consumers have and continue to suffer irreparable harm through these unlawful acts because they are making political contributions that are being used to fund personal expenses and violate state law.”

The ruling came in response to a lawsuit filed earlier that day by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. “I sued Robert Francis O’Rourke for ‘Beto Bribes’ to Democrat runaways to impede the Texas Legislature. I will not allow failed political has-beens to buy off Texas elected officials. I’ll see you in court, Beto,” Paxton said.

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O’Rourke, who has lost recent bids for the Senate and the presidency, accused Texas Republicans of trying to silence him. “They want to make examples out of those who fight so that others won’t,” he claimed. “Paxton wants to stop us from fighting Trump’s attempt to steal the five congressional seats he needs to hang on to power. But I’m not going anywhere.”

Paxton fired back: “Cry more, lib. You lost in court because you’re breaking the law and deceiving Texans. We absolutely will make an example out of law breakers.”

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The attorney general’s office is also investigating Texas Majority PAC, another group accused of aiding the absent Democrats.

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