EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) – Former El Paso Congressman Beto O’Rourke and his organization, Powered by the People, are claiming two court victories this week in the ongoing battle between O’Rourke, his organization and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.
Paxton filed suit on Aug. 8 alleging that O’Rourke and his organization have been involved in unlawful fundraising activity and that his organization was illegally funding “runaway” Democrats who broke quorum during the first special session to temporarily delay Republican redistricting efforts.
Paxton also has alleged that O’Rourke has been in violation of a court ruling out of Tarrant County, that his group has continued unlawful fundraising and that they paid for the personal expenses of Democrats who fled the state. Paxton has publicly called for O’Rourke’s arrest.
Earlier this week, the 41st District Court in El Paso issued a restraining order preventing Paxton from “initiating, filing or prosecuting ‘quo warranto’ proceedings against Powered by the People – which go after the group’s business license.”
The court also said that “Powered by the People is currently suffering irreparable constitutional harm” due to the attorney general’s “improper proceedings.”
On Friday, Aug. 22, the same court ruled in favor of Powered by the People’s request for expedited discovery in the case.
The court ruled that Paxton must appear for a deposition no later than the close of business on Thursday, Aug. 28.
The court also ruled that Paxton must produce records related to the request for expedited discovery.
Additionally, a representative from the Attorney General’s Office also must appear for a deposition no later than the close of business next Thursday.
Paxton’s office said that it has immediately appealed the El Paso court’s ruling to have him be deposed.
Here is part of what Paxton’s office said about the two most recent court rulings:
“Attorney General Paxton also appealed the court’s order to allow a politically-motivated attempt at stifling the important work of the Office of the Attorney General to move forward by enforcing an egregiously burdensome discovery request before the court even determined if it had the proper jurisdiction. The order has been appealed to the Fifteenth Court of Appeals.
“This appeal comes after the same El Paso court baselessly granted itself the ability to freeze judicial proceedings regarding Powered by People’s charter being revoked in a separate Tarrant County court. In that case, Attorney General Paxton has secured several victories — including a temporary restraining order – against Beto over his deceptive fundraising scheme.”
O’Rourke, meanwhile, issued the following statement: “We’ve beat Ken Paxton in court twice this week. The futility of his political prosecution of Powered by People is now clear as day. And Ken’s poll numbers — the whole reason he weaponized the Attorney General’s Office against us in the first place — are sinking like a rock. I think everyone’s looking forward to seeing this corrupt, lying thug deposed under oath.”
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