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Judge Blocks Beto’s Attempt To Funnel Cash To AWOL Texas Dems

A Texas judge has put a stop to former Rep. Beto O-Rourke’s (D-TX) attempt to funnel cash to the the fifty-odd state legislators who fled the state in an effort to stall the passage of a Republican-led redistricting plan.

Tarrant County District Judge Megan Fahey slapped O’Rourke with a temporary restraining order late on Friday, stating that funds raised by his non profit group could not be used to assist the Texas Democrats — who have been hiding out in blue states like Illinois and California since they fled the state — because they were in violation of the law as long as they remained absent from the special legislative session that had been called.

“Defendants have and will continue to engage in unlawful fundraising practices and utilization of political funds in a manner that either directly violates or causes Texas Democratic Legislators to violate [the law],” Fahey wrote. “Consumer have and continue to suffer irreparable harm through these unlawful acts because they are making political contributions that are being used to fund personal expenses and violate state law.”

O’Rourke, who failed in his most recent bids for elected office — an attempt to unseat Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) and and attempt to earn the Democratic presidential nomination — was trying to use his group “Powered by People” to help the Democrats survive their self-imposed exile by funding their travel and lodging expenses in addition to the fines they’ve racked up for not remaining in Texas to do their jobs.

Fahey’s ruling was a response to Attorney General Ken Paxton’s (R-TX) filing earlier that day.

“BREAKING: I sued Robert Francis O’Rourke for ‘Beto Bribes’ to Democrat runaways to impede the Texas Legislature. I will not allow failed political has-beens to buy off Texas elected officials. I’ll see you in court, Beto,” Paxton wrote.

O’Rourke responded to the ruling, claiming that Republicans in Texas were afraid of him because he and his organization were threats to their power.

“They want to make examples out of those who fight so that others won’t,” O’Rourke claimed. “Now Paxton’s filed a restraining order to try to take us out of the fight. He wants to silence me and stop me from leading this organization. He wants to stop us from fighting Trump’s attempt to steal the five congressional seats he needs to hang on to power. But I’m not going anywhere. I plan on speaking at our rally to stop the power grab in Fort Worth tomorrow afternoon.”

“Cry more, lib,” was Paxton’s reply. “You lost in court because you’re breaking the law and deceiving Texans. We absolutely will make an example out of law breakers.”

Paxton has also launched in investigation into another group that has been aiding the AWOL Texas Democrats: Texas Majority PAC.

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