(The Center Square) – Democratic political action committees are being investigated by state, and potentially federal, authorities over claims they are funding Texas House Democrats who fled the state.
More than 50 House Democrats on Sunday left the state in protest over a Republican Congressional redistricting plan. Dozens flew to Chicago using a private plane from CommuteAir, posting selfies and videos requesting donations to support their “fight” to block a vote. They are being fined $500 a day under state law and civil warrants for their arrest were issued.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker responded to questions at a news conference if he was covering their $500 a day fine and who was paying for them to stay in Chicago.
“They have the right to raise money to support their endeavor,” Pritzker said. “I haven’t done that. We’ve done everything in terms of logistics to support, to welcome them. I continue to support the endeavor that they’ve undertaken here. Others have already done some of that.” When asked directly if he would financially support them, he said, “I can’t answer that. I can only tell you that that I’m going to do everything I can to make sure that they’re welcome here that they have the ability to stay as long as they need to.”
A Texas House Democratic Caucus spokesperson issued a statement saying, “Every dime of expense for this effort is being paid for lawfully.” The caucus also launched a fundraiser online, stating, “Instead of focusing this special session on helping the hundreds of Texans who died, and many more still missing, [Gov.] Greg Abbott is burying flood relief under a redistricting scheme to help President Trump steal congressional seats. Donate today and help Texas House Democrats fight back against GOP attacks on all Texans.”
Two major Democratic political action committees, however, are funding the effort, The Texas Tribune reported.
Powered by the People, a political action committee launched by former U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke, D-El Paso, “has covered much of the costs so far – including air transport, lodging and logistical support, a person involved with the fundraising said,” the Tribune reported.
O’Rourke challenged Abbott for governor and Sen. Ted Cruz for the U.S. Senate, losing both high profile races.
Texas Majority PAC, funded by globalist billionaire megadonor George Soros “and formed by alums of O’Rourke’s 2022 gubernatorial bid,” is also reportedly “coordinating with national Democratic groups to solicit fundraising from the party’s regular big-dollar donors, according to two people with knowledge of the internal dynamics,” the Tribune reported.
Texas House Democrats have also said in social media posts and interviews that they are also receiving small donations to their campaigns.
On Monday, Gov. Greg Abbott ordered the Texas Rangers “to immediately investigate fleeing Texas House Democrats for potential bribery and any other potential legal violations connected to their refusal to appear for a quorum, conduct business, and cast votes. That investigation should extend to anyone who aided or abetted such potential crimes.”
Under Texas Penal Code, any lawmaker who solicits, accepts, or agrees to accept funds to assist with violating legislative duties or to skip a vote “may have violated bribery laws. Also, it could be a bribery violation for any other person who offers, provides, or agrees to provide such funds to fleeing Democrat House members,” Abbott said.
Abbott raised the same concerns in an emergency petition he filed with the Texas Supreme Court to remove from office Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair, Rep. Gene Wu, D-Houston, The Center Square reported.
On Tuesday, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, requested the FBI to assist with a federal bribery investigation, as well as assisting with locating and arresting MIA Democrats.
“The FBI has tools to aid state law enforcement when parties cross state lines, including to avoid testifying or fleeing a scene of a crime. Specifically, I am concerned that legislators who solicited or accepted funds to aid in their efforts to avoid their legislative duties may be guilty of bribery or other public corruption offenses,” Cornyn wrote in his request to FBI Director Kash Patel.
On Thursday, Cornyn announced his request was granted, The Center Square reported.
On Wednesday, the Texas Office of Attorney General launched an investigation into Powered by the People saying it “may have violated bribery laws” as well as other state laws “governing campaign or officeholder contributions and expenditures, coercion of a public servant, and abuse of office.” It issued a Request to Examine, demanding documents and communications from the PAC about its involvement with Texas House Democrats’ scheme to break quorum.
Many Texas House Democrats have been staying at the Q Center hotel outside of Chicago. They were evacuated on Wednesday after a bomb threat was reported and no bomb was found.
In response to blaming Texas Republicans for the threat, Andrew Mahaleris, Gov. Greg Abbott’s press secretary, told ABC News, “First and foremost, violence – or even the threat of it – is unacceptable and the Governor condemns it without reservation. But to suggest that calling on Democrats to return to Texas and do their jobs is somehow ‘inflammatory’ is absurd.”
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