Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced Wednesday that a criminal investigation has been opened into a political organization tied to former Democratic presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke.
The organization, Powered by People, is under scrutiny for allegedly providing unlawful financial support to Texas Democrats who left the state in a coordinated effort to prevent a redistricting vote.
The investigation centers around claims that Powered by People may have operated an “illegal financial influence scheme” to fund the travel and lodging of Democrat lawmakers, according to a press release from Paxton’s office.
These lawmakers departed the state in order to break quorum in the Texas House of Representatives, a move that effectively halted legislative action on Republican-backed redistricting proposals.
“This type of scheme is not only unethical, it may be criminal,” the press release stated.
“Any Democrat coward breaking the law by taking a Beto Bribe will be held accountable,” Paxton added in a public statement. “Texas cannot be bought.”
As part of the probe, Paxton’s office has issued a formal Request to Examine, requiring Powered by People to produce internal documents and communications related to the financial support of the lawmakers.
The investigation will determine whether any Texas laws were violated, including those related to bribery, coercion of public servants, campaign finance and abuse of office.
The controversy stems from a walkout by dozens of Texas House Democrats who fled the state to prevent a vote on the Republican redistricting plan.
Without two-thirds of its 150 members present, the Texas House cannot conduct official business. The current makeup of the chamber is 88 Republicans and 62 Democrats.
ABC News reported that Powered by People, which describes itself as a voter registration and mobilization organization, contributed funds to the Texas House Democratic Caucus.
The donations, according to a spokesperson for the group, were not made directly to individual legislators, but rather to help cover general expenses incurred by the caucus.
“Powered by People, a voter registration and mobilization group, has been donating to the Texas House Democratic Caucus — not members directly, or for any line-item expense — to help cover upfront costs for the group, such as lodging and transportation,” the spokesperson said.
Despite the clarification, Paxton’s office maintains that the financial backing may still amount to a criminal violation.
“By providing these liberal lawmakers with the funds to flee the state, Powered by People may have violated bribery laws,” the press release stated.
It also cited the possibility of additional violations under Texas statutes governing campaign contributions and official misconduct.
During their absence, the Democrat lawmakers were reported to have coordinated with Democratic governors, including Illinois Governor J.D. Pritzker and Colorado Governor Jared Polis.
Reports indicated that many of the lawmakers stayed in hotels and incurred travel costs that were paid for by outside groups, including Powered by People.
O’Rourke, who launched unsuccessful campaigns for U.S. Senate in 2018 and president in 2020, has maintained frequent contact with the lawmakers during their time away from Texas.
In a public statement, he declared: “We will have the backs of these heroic state lawmakers for as long as it takes to stop Trump’s power grab.”
Paxton, a Republican, has taken an aggressive stance against the lawmakers who left Texas.
In addition to launching the investigation into Powered by People, he has announced plans to seek court intervention to vacate the seats of the absent Democrats.
If the court grants Paxton’s request, the vacant seats would trigger special elections to replace the legislators who fled.
“This is about accountability,” Paxton said. “Texans deserve to know if their elected officials are being illegally influenced or incentivized to abandon their duties.”
Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows gave the absent members until Friday, August 8, to return to the state. If they fail to do so, Republican leadership may move forward with legal proceedings to declare their seats vacant and call for special elections.
Texas law gives the House sergeant-at-arms and the Department of Public Safety authority to locate and compel the return of lawmakers who are within state boundaries. However, the lawmakers’ decision to leave Texas complicates enforcement efforts.
The use of walkouts to prevent legislative action has precedent in Texas.
Trending Politics reported that in 2003, Democrats left the state to delay a redistricting vote, and in 2021, they took similar action to stall passage of an election law.
Both attempts were ultimately unsuccessful in preventing the legislation from moving forward.
Paxton stated that his office is committed to a thorough review of all relevant communications and financial transactions.
“These jet-setting runaways have already lost public trust by abandoning our state,” he said. “Texans deserve to know if they received illegal bribes to do it.”
The post Presidential Hopeful’s Political Group Under Criminal Investigation for Allegedly Bankrolling Dem Walkout appeared first on Resist the Mainstream.
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Author: Jordyn M.
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