Overview

• Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton opened a probe into Powered by People to determine if it broke state laws by covering travel expenses and fines for more than 50 legislators who left Texas to deny quorum.
• He issued a formal “request to examine” order under a statute upheld by the Texas Supreme Court to obtain documents and communications from the PAC.
• Paxton’s office alleges the organization ran a financial influence scheme potentially violating statutes on bribery, coercion of public officials and improper campaign expenditures.
• Governor Greg Abbott directed the Texas Rangers to investigate possible bribery and other legal breaches linked to the lawmakers’ quorum-break strategy.
• Republican leaders have also escalated enforcement: Speaker Dustin Burrows signed arrest warrants to compel absentees, Gov. Abbott has pursued seat-vacancy actions against noncompliant Democrats, and Senator John Cornyn requested an FBI probe of those who accepted PAC support.