Texas Attorney General Paxton Targets O’Rourke

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has sought clarification from the state court regarding how law enforcement would proceed with the arrest of Democrat Robert Francis “Beto” O’Rourke.

Paxton is facing a fine of up to $500 and potentially six months in jail after filing a motion in court against O’Rourke. He accuses O’Rourke of violating a court order in Tarrant County, Texas.

In a statement to Breitbart News, Paxton mentioned, “Beto told me, ‘Come, I’ll take it,’ so I beat him in court. Now he still believes he’s above the law, and I’m trying to put him behind bars.” He claims O’Rourke has willfully disregarded a court order meant to stop him from fundraising and distributing money improperly. According to Paxton, ignoring the law will indeed have consequences in Texas.

O’Rourke, a former U.S. Representative, previously ran for the U.S. Senate in 2018 but lost to Senator Ted Cruz. He also campaigned for the presidency in 2020, eventually losing out to Joe Biden in the Democratic primary.

In 2022, he pursued the Texas gubernatorial position but was defeated by Republican Greg Abbott.

Known popularly as “Beto,” O’Rourke has been vocal about aiding Texas Democrats. He criticized Republicans for redrawing Congressional Districts, aiming to energize Democratic voters as midterm elections approached, and has raised funds for progressives through his organization, “Powered by People.”

Recently, Paxton requested a Texas District Court to restrict funding for these Democrats. A judge issued a temporary restraining order preventing O’Rourke from fundraising in this context. Paxton stated, “The acquisition of BETO’s bribes, which were meant to fund runaway Democrats, has been officially halted.” He expressed his belief that O’Rourke’s financial strategies are deceptive and damaging to the democratic process.

Despite the order, O’Rourke encouraged attendees at a recent rally to donate to his organization, particularly in support of Democratic legislators who had left the state.

O’Rourke commented, “Paxton tried to stop us from holding this rally in Fort Worth, but he lost. One of the best things we can do for Ken Paxton is to support these fighters.” He emphasized the need for resources to support Democratic efforts and rallied the crowd with the question, “Are you with me?”

Before closing, O’Rourke mentioned that Texas Democrats should inspire others from blue states to join their cause, insisting, “There’s no backing down in this fight.”

Paxton’s office reiterated that a judge is monitoring O’Rourke’s actions closely. “Robert Francis is wrong on both counts,” the release stated. “There’s a judge—Honorable Megan Fahey—overseeing this case. Anyone who violates a temporary restraining order can incur a $500 fine and face up to six months in jail.”

O’Rourke also has a criminal history; he was arrested in 1998 for driving while intoxicated. Reports from officers at the time indicated that he attempted to flee the scene. The charges were later dismissed after he successfully completed a court-approved diversion program.