Judge Issues Restraining Order Against Texas Nonprofit For Helping AWOL Dems
A Texas judge ruled against Beto O’Rourke and his nonprofit on Friday in a case initiated by state Attorney General Ken Paxton, who accused them of unlawfully raising funds to assist Democratic lawmakers that left the state to obstruct GOP redistricting legislation.
Tarrant County District Judge Megan Fahey issued a temporary restraining order on Friday evening against O’Rourke, a former congressman and Democratic presidential candidate, along with his organization, Powered by People, regarding what she described as “unlawful fundraising practices” associated with efforts to support Texas Democrats who departed the state — including financing air travel, accommodation, logistics, and daily fines, as reported by Fox News.
“The defendants have engaged and will continue to engage in unlawful fundraising practices and the use of political funds in a manner that either directly contravenes or compels Texas Democratic Legislators to contravene [the law],” Fahey stated in her ruling. “Consumers have suffered and continue to suffer irreparable harm due to these unlawful actions, as they are making political contributions that are being utilized to cover personal expenses and violate state law.”
Fahey’s order prohibits O’Rourke and his organization from further fundraising or providing financial assistance to the fleeing Democrats. This ruling was issued just hours after Paxton’s office submitted a petition for the restraining order.
Fahey, a Republican, was appointed by Texas Governor Greg Abbott in 2019.
Following the ruling, O’Rourke released a statement accusing Paxton of attempting to dismantle his nonprofit “because our volunteers advocate for voting rights and free elections,” labeling it “the type of work that threatens the grip that Paxton, Trump, and Abbott have on power in Texas.”
“They aim to set examples out of those who resist so that others will not,” O’Rourke remarked. “Now Paxton has filed a restraining order to attempt to remove us from the struggle. He seeks to silence me and prevent me from leading this organization. He wants to hinder our efforts against Trump’s attempt to seize the five congressional seats.
In conjunction with the Powered by People case, Paxton initiated an inquiry into the Texas Majority PAC, which has also faced allegations of being a significant financial supporter of the Democrats who departed the state.
O’Rourke initiated his own legal action against Paxton in the El Paso district court on Friday, as reported by The Texas Tribune. O’Rourke accused Paxton of conducting a “fishing expedition” and requested that a judge prohibit the investigation into the operations of his nonprofit.
Paxton marked the outcome with a post on X.
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“BREAKING: I just defeated Beto O’Rourke in court. We secured a major victory stopping runaway Democrats from taking ‘Beto Bribes’ and preventing deceptive fundraising. They told me to ‘come and take it,’ so I did,” stated the Texas attorney general.