Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced on Wednesday that his office has launched a criminal investigation into Powered by People, a political organization affiliated with former presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke.
The group is under scrutiny for allegedly funding Texas House Democrats who fled the state to block a vote on redistricting legislation.
According to a press release from Paxton’s office, the investigation will focus on “unlawful activity, including potentially operating an illegal financial influence scheme to bribe runaway Democrats who fled Texas to break quorum.”
The attorney general indicated that multiple state laws may have been violated in the process.
“Any Democrat coward breaking the law by taking a Beto Bribe will be held accountable,” said Attorney General Paxton.
“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.”
The Texas House requires a two-thirds quorum to conduct official legislative business.
With 88 Republicans and 62 Democrats in the chamber, the absence of the Democratic members halted progress on the proposed redistricting maps.
In response, Paxton’s office has initiated steps to remove absent lawmakers from office, including a legal request to declare their seats vacant.
Powered by People, which is described as a voter registration and mobilization group, is one of several activist organizations alleged to have financially supported the Democrats who left the state.
The lawmakers coordinated with Democratic governors such as J.B. Pritzker of Illinois and Jared Polis of Colorado to execute the quorum-breaking maneuver.
ABC News reported that Powered by People donated funds to the Texas House Democratic Caucus to help cover group expenses such as lodging and transportation.
“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,” a spokesperson for the group told ABC News.
O’Rourke has maintained communication with the lawmakers during the standoff.
“We will have the backs of these heroic state lawmakers for as long as it takes to stop Trump’s power grab,” O’Rourke told ABC News.
The attorney general’s office contends that the organization’s financial involvement may amount to violations of multiple Texas laws, including bribery, coercion of a public servant, campaign finance rules, and abuse of office.
“By providing these liberal lawmakers with the funds to flee the state, Powered by People may have violated bribery laws,” the press release stated.
“Powered by People and the runaway Democrats may have also violated other Texas laws, including, but not limited to, those governing campaign or officeholder contributions and expenditures, coercion of a public servant, and abuse of office.”
As part of the investigation, Paxton issued a Request to Examine, demanding internal documents and communications from Powered by People regarding any involvement in the walkout and funding of the Democratic members.
The Democratic lawmakers’ absence has also raised concerns about delayed responses to key state issues and legislative responsibilities.
On Tuesday, Paxton announced that he is seeking a court ruling to declare the seats of the absent Democrats vacant. If granted, the ruling would allow special elections to be scheduled to fill the seats.
Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows has given the absent lawmakers until Friday, August 8, to return and present themselves before the House.
Under Texas law, state troopers and the House sergeants-at-arms are authorized to locate and return absent lawmakers who remain within the state.
This authority does not extend beyond state lines.
Texas Democrats have previously employed quorum-breaking tactics, including in 2003 and 2021.
In 2003, the tactic was used to delay redistricting, and in 2021 it was employed to attempt to block election legislation.
Both efforts ultimately failed.
