Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has initiated an inquiry into former Rep. Beto O’Rourke’s political organization over allegations of illegal financial support for Democratic lawmakers who skipped town in an effort to derail a Republican-backed redistricting plan.
In a press release issued Wednesday, Paxton claimed that Powered by People. which was founded by O’Rourke, could be guilty of violating Texas bribery statutes.
He also suggested that other potential infractions might include coercion of public officials, misuse of public office, and campaign finance violations.
“I just launched an investigation into Beto O’Rourke’s radical group for unlawfully funding runaway Democrats,” Paxton wrote on X.
BREAKING: I just launched an investigation into Beto O'Rourke's radical group for unlawfully funding runaway Democrats.
Any Democrat coward breaking the law by taking a Beto Bribe will be held accountable. pic.twitter.com/PV2IdwNOBd
— Attorney General Ken Paxton (@KenPaxtonTX) August 6, 2025
“Any Democrat coward breaking the law by taking a Beto Bribe will be held accountable.”
According to reporting from the Texas Tribune, O’Rourke’s group has been among the biggest contributors covering travel expenses for state legislators who left Texas to block the GOP’s redistricting plans.
Paxton has formally requested documentation and internal communications from the group to determine whether any illegal activity occurred as part of what he called the Democrats’ “scheme to break quorum.”
The Attorney General’s office noted in a statement that legal action is likely against any Democrat who fails to return to the House chamber by the deadline set by the Speaker.
Meanwhile, O’Rourke fired back by attempting to rally his base. “The guy impeached for bribery is going after the folks trying to stop the theft of five Congressional seats,” he posted on X.
The guy impeached for bribery is going after the folks trying to stop the theft of five Congressional seats.
I encourage everyone to text FIGHT to 20377. Let’s stop these thugs before they steal our country. https://t.co/q13OCmMoRz
— Beto O'Rourke (@BetoORourke) August 6, 2025
“I encourage everyone to text FIGHT to 20377. Let’s stop these thugs before they steal our country.”
Gov. Greg Abbott and Paxton have both stated that the missing lawmakers should face arrest for obstructing the special session.
Warrants were recently issued for lawmakers who failed to appear at the Texas Capitol.
While many have relocated to states like Illinois and New York, Abbott told Fox News’ Will Cain that some members may still be in Texas.
🚨 WATCH: Gov. Greg Abbott tells Fox’s @willcain he aims to quickly have the Texas House Democrats removed from office. pic.twitter.com/CcpBaRtyRT
— TV News Now (@TVNewsNow) August 5, 2025
“Texas Department of Public Safety officers are on the streets looking for those Democrat House members to arrest them and to take them to the Texas Capitol and hold them there until a quorum is reached,” Abbott told Cain.
Abbott acknowledged he wasn’t sure how many rogue Democrats remained in-state, but said the Texas DPS was coordinating with law enforcement in other states to locate and detain those who fled.
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One group of Democrats staying in a hotel in St. Charles, Illinois, faced a bomb threat early Wednesday morning.
Abbott also noted that if any representatives accepted money to evade voting duties, they could be subject to removal from office. In such cases, special elections would be called to fill those vacancies.
Some of the Democratic legislators who left Texas held a press conference in Illinois, admitting they were prepared to face repercussions. They insisted that blocking the redistricting map was worth the risk.
The St. Charles Police Department reported receiving a call around 7:15 a.m. about a threat at the hotel where the legislators were lodged.
Alongside fire personnel and the Kane County Sheriff’s Office, officers searched the premises thoroughly and did not find any explosive devices.
Authorities evacuated about 400 people during the investigation. Everyone was eventually allowed to return.
In a joint statement, Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Wu, Mexican American Legislative Caucus Chair Ramon Romero, and Legislative Black Caucus Chair Barbara Gervin-Hawkins said, “We are safe, we are secure, and we are undeterred.” They also thanked Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and local officials for ensuring their safety.
Gov. Pritzker acknowledged the incident on social media and stated that Illinois State Police would continue to monitor the situation closely.
“Threats of violence will be investigated and those responsible will be held accountable,” he posted.
Pritzker made it clear that he would not cooperate with Texas authorities attempting to detain the legislators in his state.
During an interview with Jessica Yellin on “News Not Noise,” he said, “Our state troopers protect everybody in Illinois and anybody who’s here in Illinois.”
“Whether it’s federal agents coming to Illinois or state rangers from Texas, if you haven’t broken federal law, you’re basically unwelcome and there’s no way that our state legislators here — the Texas state legislators — can be arrested,” he noted.
President Trump weighed in Tuesday, saying federal officials “may have to” step in to resolve the issue.
Senator John Cornyn penned a letter to FBI Director Kash Patel urging the agency to assist with the return of the absentee Democrats.
Pritzker, however, blasted both Trump and Texas officials in his Wednesday remarks, alleging that neither were following legal procedures.
“Look, we follow the law and the law is what I just laid it out to be. But, as you know, Donald Trump does not follow the law. Indeed, he’s a convicted felon,” Pritzker said during his interview.
“In Texas, they are also not following the law. They are thwarting the Constitution with the Voting Rights Act and making threats that they can’t carry out,” he continued.
“John Cornyn, of course, is running against Ken Paxton for his seat in the U.S. Senate; and so they’re fighting, bickering over who can be tougher on this topic.”
