A Texas judge has expanded a restraining order against former congressman Beto O’Rourke and his political organization, Powered by People, barring them from sending money out of Texas.
The decision, handed down by Tarrant County Judge Megan Fahey, came in response to a complaint from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who alleged that O’Rourke’s fundraising conduct constituted “false, misleading, or deceptive acts” under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act.
Judge Fahey’s order not only freezes O’Rourke’s ability to send money out of Texas but also denies his motion to move the proceedings to El Paso County.
The judge found that “harm is imminent to the State, and if the Court does not issue this order, the State will be irreparably injured”.
Financial institutions and political fundraising platforms, including ActBlue, are restrained from removing any property or funds belonging to O’Rourke or Powered by People from the state of Texas.
The controversy centers on O’Rourke’s support for Texas Democrats who fled the state to block a legislative session on congressional redistricting.
O’Rourke’s group, Powered by People, donated over $1 million to Texas Democrats, benefiting the Texas legislative Black caucus, the Texas house Democratic caucus, and the Mexican American legislative caucus. The donations were made possible by over 55,000 donations.
Paxton celebrated the court’s decision, stating that O’Rourke’s “fraudulent attempt to pad the pockets of the rogue cowards abandoning Texas has been stopped”.
O’Rourke, on the other hand, vowed to continue fighting, saying that Democrats are “not going to bend the knee. We’re going to stand and fight wherever we have to – from the state house to the court house, from Texas to California”.
The next chapter in this legal saga will unfold on September 2, 2025, when Judge Fahey is scheduled to hold a hearing to determine whether to issue an injunction against O’Rourke and his nonprofit.
The stakes are high, with potential implications for activist organizations and political donors across the state.
If the injunction is granted, it could further restrict O’Rourke’s political activities and set a precedent for how advocacy groups operate in Texas.