Texas AG Ken Paxton accused the organization of running a financial influence scheme that convinced Texas Democrats to leave the state.
AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has launched an investigation into a political group established by former U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke (D-El Paso).
Powered By People is a voter outreach PAC that was established in late 2019 by O’Rourke, a year after his narrowly failed U.S. Senate bid against Sen. Ted Cruz.
Paxton said as part of the investigation, his office will look into the organization providing financial assistance to Texas Democrats who fled the state as a means to break quorum and prevent a vote on a newly proposed congressional map that would further shift districts to favor the GOP.
“Any Democrat coward breaking the law by taking a Beto Bribe will be held accountable,” Paxton said in a news release sent on Wednesday. “Texas cannot be bought. I look forward to thoroughly reviewing all of the documents and communications obtained throughout this investigation. These jet-setting runaways have already lost public trust by abandoning our state, and Texans deserve to know if they received illegal bribes to do it.”
In response, O’Rourke said in part, “The guy impeached for bribery is going after the folks trying to stop the theft of five congressional seats.”
According to the Texas Tribune, the group has emerged as a top funder covering the costs of Texas lawmakers who have fled the state. Paxton alleges that by funding the absent lawmakers, the group may have violated bribery laws.
As part of the investigation, Paxton has issued a Request to Examine, which demands documents and communications from the group regarding potentially unlawful activity, including its involvement in the Democrats’ plan to break quorum.
Paxton has previously said that he will take legal action if the Democratic lawmakers have not returned to Texas by Friday.
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