Texas AG Launches Investigation into Soros-Funded PAC
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has initiated a formal inquiry into the Texas Majority PAC (TMP), a political action committee partially financed by billionaire George Soros.
The state attorney general alleges that the organization is involved in illegal coordination, bribery, and financial misconduct for supporting the wrongdoing of Texas Democrats who left the state.
“This investigation aims to safeguard the integrity of our legislature,” Paxton stated in a public announcement. “If Texas lawmakers are yielding to the Soros Slush Fund instead of the voters’ wishes, Texans have the right to be informed. Receiving financial incentives covertly to neglect your legislative responsibilities constitutes bribery.”
TMP is facing scrutiny for purportedly utilizing donor funds to facilitate and encourage the mass exodus of House Democrats last week, which resulted in the chamber lacking a quorum and halting legislative proceedings. Paxton mentioned that his office has submitted a formal Request to Examine to Texas Majority PAC, emphasizing that the group’s connections to Soros raise significant concerns regarding foreign-influenced political activities.
“The actions of Texas Majority PAC suggest that it may be leveraging its Soros-funded assets to violate the law and finance the unlawful abandonment of public office,” Paxton remarked. “If this is confirmed by the investigation, there will be severe consequences.”
The Attorney General’s investigation follows his earlier inquiry into Powered by People, another organization aligned with O’Rourke, which Paxton indicated may have also contributed to orchestrating the Democrats’ coordinated departure.
“There is a discernible pattern of radical organizations, enriched with out-of-state funds, disrupting the legislative process in Texas,” he stated, adding, “We intend to unveil that network and hold every component accountable.”
The situation escalated on August 4, when numerous Democratic lawmakers left the state to prevent Republicans from achieving the quorum necessary to enact legislation during a special session. In response, Speaker of the Texas House Dustin Burrows issued arrest warrants for the absent members, citing Article III, Section 10 of the Texas Constitution, along with Rule 5, Section 8 of the House rules, which permit the detention of lawmakers who exit the chamber without a valid excuse.
“Speaker Burrows promptly issued warrants for the arrest of the fleeing Democrats who abandoned Texas, neglected their constituents, and renounced their legislative responsibilities,” stated Paxton. “We are exploring every legal option available to ensure these wayward legislators are held accountable. Texans deserve representatives who fulfill their duties rather than fleeing at the command of their wealthy benefactors. If there is one thing Texans despise more than failures, it is cowards.”
Burrows reiterated Paxton’s determination. “From the very beginning, I have maintained that all options remain viable to ensure my colleagues who have deserted the House return to meet their constitutional duties,” he remarked. “Due to their ongoing refusal to uphold their responsibilities to their constituents and return to Texas, the State is compelled to seek further legal remedies.”
The Texas House has subsequently requested that Paxton’s office enforce these warrants across state lines, including in Illinois, where several Democrats are currently in hiding.
Paxton has also escalated the matter to the Texas Supreme Court, initiating action related to a quo warranto petition filed by Governor Greg Abbott against Democratic Representative Gene Wu. This petition contends that lawmakers who do not return by the deadline established by Speaker Burrows have effectively vacated their positions.
“Texas is utilizing every possible means to compel the runaway Democrats to return to Texas and hold them accountable for their quorum violations,” Paxton stated. “According to the Texas Constitution and Texas law, the Office of the Attorney General is committed to ensuring compliance.”
In a letter presented to the Court, Paxton’s office stated: “The precedent established by this Court is unequivocal that a ‘quo warranto’ proceeding ‘can only be initiated by the attorney general, a county attorney, or a district attorney.’ … Consequently, the Court should refrain from dismissing the Governor’s petition until the Speaker’s deadline on Friday has elapsed and the Attorney General is able to address these significant matters.”
The ongoing investigation into Texas Majority PAC introduces an additional dimension to what has evolved into a critical legal and political confrontation between Texas Republicans and national Democratic organizations. Paxton has consistently alleged that the Democratic legislators are acting “at the direction of radical donors and D.C. operatives,” and is now implying that these financial backers could be held accountable for facilitating misconduct by public officials.
“We will not permit Texas to be held captive by billionaires with an anti-democratic agenda,” Paxton remarked. “If TMP or any other PAC has coordinated with elected officials to neglect their responsibilities, that is not activism—that is a crime.”