Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is swinging hard at Beto O’Rourke, aiming to lock him up for thumbing his nose at a court order, as Breitbart reports. The former congressman’s defiance in fundraising for runaway Democrat lawmakers has landed him in hot water. Paxton’s not playing games, and O’Rourke’s antics might cost him more than just a slap on the wrist.
Paxton filed a contempt motion against O’Rourke in Tarrant County, alleging he violated a judge’s temporary restraining order by soliciting donations for Democrat statehouse members. These lawmakers fled Austin to stall Republican-led redistricting efforts. O’Rourke’s actions could lead to a $500 fine or up to six months in jail.
Through his group Powered by People, O’Rourke has been rallying support for these absent Democrats. His fundraising efforts aim to bankroll their protest against Texas’ redistricting plans. But Paxton’s motion claims O’Rourke’s defiance of the court’s ban is a step too far.
Last week, Paxton asked a Texas district court to halt O’Rourke’s fundraising for the fugitive Democrats. Judge Megan Fahey issued a temporary restraining order, barring O’Rourke from collecting funds for this cause. Yet, O’Rourke didn’t waste time testing the court’s resolve.
Less than a day after the order, O’Rourke was at a Fort Worth rally, urging attendees to donate via text to Powered by People. “He [Paxton] tried to stop us from raising money to support these Democrats in the fight -- he lost,” O’Rourke boasted. His bravado might land him behind bars if Paxton gets his way.
“We are not going to let him stop us,” O’Rourke declared at the rally, doubling down on his challenge. He’s betting on public support to outmaneuver Paxton’s legal moves. But Paxton’s office isn’t impressed, calling O’Rourke’s claims flat-out wrong.
“There are no refs in this game, f*ck the rules, we are going to win whatever it takes,” O’Rourke shouted in Fort Worth. That kind of talk might fire up his base, but it’s a risky taunt when a judge is watching. Paxton’s team pounced, pointing out Judge Fahey as the referee O’Rourke conveniently ignored.
Paxton’s office didn’t mince words in response. “There is a referee -- the Honorable Megan Fahey -- and there are rules,” the press release stated. Violating a court order carries a potential $500 fine and six months in jail, a reality O’Rourke seems to underestimate.
“Beto told me ‘to come and take,’ so I did and beat him in court,” Paxton said in a statement to Breitbart News. He’s framing O’Rourke as a lawless provocateur, unfit for the political stage. The AG’s ready to make an example out of him.
After securing the restraining order, Paxton celebrated stopping O’Rourke’s “Beto Bribe buyouts” for the runaway Democrats. “People like Robert believe Texas can be bought,” he said. His rhetoric paints O’Rourke as a schemer undermining the state’s constitutional process.
O’Rourke’s political history adds fuel to the fire. A former congressman, he lost to Ted Cruz in the 2018 Senate race, fell short in the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primary, and was defeated by Gov. Greg Abbott in 2022. His string of losses doesn’t seem to dampen his appetite for political stunts.
Paxton’s motion highlights O’Rourke’s past, including a 1998 drunk driving arrest where police claimed he tried to flee. Though the charges were dismissed after a diversion program, Paxton’s team uses it to question O’Rourke’s respect for the law. It’s a low blow, but it fits the AG’s aggressive playbook.
O’Rourke’s encouragement of Democrat lawmakers to flee Austin is a bold move to delay redistricting. His group’s fundraising efforts aim to sustain their protest, but the court order threw a wrench in those plans. O’Rourke’s refusal to back down shows he’s willing to roll the dice.
“Robert Francis flagrantly and knowingly violated the court order,” Paxton charged in his statement. He’s banking on the court to enforce consequences, signaling that no one’s above the law in Texas. O’Rourke’s defiance might rally his supporters, but it’s a dangerous game with real stakes.
The clash between Paxton and O’Rourke is a classic Texas showdown, pitting law-and-order conservatism against progressive defiance. Paxton’s pushing for accountability, while O’Rourke’s betting on public sympathy. Only Judge Fahey’s gavel will decide who comes out on top.
