Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit against Robert Francis “Beto” O’Rourke and his organization, Powered by People, accusing them of engaging in unlawful fundraising and running a misleading scheme to support Democratic lawmakers who left the state to block legislative action.
Paxton alleged that O’Rourke and his group solicited donations under the guise of political fundraising but used the money to cover personal expenses for the lawmakers. “Democrat runaways are likely accepting Beto bribes to underwrite their jet-setting sideshow in far-flung places and misleadingly raising political funds to pay for personal expenses,” Paxton said. “This out-of-state, cowardly cabal is abandoning their constitutional duties. I will not allow failed political has-beens to buy off Texas elected officials. I’ll see you in court, Beto.”
According to Paxton, O’Rourke blurred the line between political and personal use of funds, exploiting donors who believed their contributions were for political purposes. The lawsuit seeks a temporary restraining order and injunction to block O’Rourke and Powered by People from raising or distributing money to support the absent Democratic House members.
Paxton previously demanded documents from Powered by People and launched an investigation into another group, funded by George Soros, that has been linked to the lawmakers’ quorum break.
The dispute stems from the departure of more than 50 Democratic legislators who left Texas to prevent the Republican-controlled legislature from advancing a new congressional map. Many have taken refuge in states such as New York, Illinois, and Massachusetts. Governor Greg Abbott has vowed to bring them back, calling for their arrest and enlisting the FBI’s assistance in locating them.
