Former Congressman Beto O’Rourke (D-TX) may have just turned a legal defeat into a criminal problem after openly defying a Texas court order to halt what the state’s attorney general has called an unlawful fundraising scheme.
The state of Texas sued O’Rourke earlier this year, alleging that he misrepresented a fundraising effort as political when, in reality, the money was going directly to Texas House Democrats who fled the state to block a redistricting plan that would have benefitted Republicans. These lawmakers broke quorum — effectively refusing to show up to work — to prevent the GOP from passing new congressional maps.
A Texas court sided with Texas’ Attorney General Ken Paxton, issuing a restraining order prohibiting O’Rourke from raising or distributing any more funds tied to the stunt. Paxton argued that the mischaracterization of the fundraiser violated state law and was designed to funnel money into lawmakers’ pockets, a claim some have compared to outright bribery.
The court order didn’t seem to slow O’Rourke down. Less than 24 hours later, he was on stage at a rally telling supporters to donate to his group to “support” the absent lawmakers. “He [Paxton] is trying to stop us from raising the resources they need to ultimately prevail… and we are not going to let him stop us!” O’Rourke said, asking the crowd, “Are you with me on that?!”
BETO O’ROURKE: “There are no refs in this game. Fuck the rules! We’re gonna win, whatever it takes!” pic.twitter.com/XKNyjI5qQk
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) August 10, 2025
Paxton responded bluntly. “Beto told me ‘to come and take,’ so I did and beat him in court. Now, he still thinks he’s above the law, so I’m working to put him behind bars,” Paxton told Breitbart News. “Robert Francis flagrantly and knowingly violated the court order… It’s time to lock him up.”
The case now moves into potentially serious territory. Defying a lawful court order is contempt — and contempt can carry real jail time. O’Rourke is about to find out that while having a D next to their name was enough to get Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton and other Democrats out of trouble, that won’t work for him in Texas. AG Paxton isn’t playing games. O’Rourke will most likely end up behind bars for this crime.
O’Rourke’s defiance appears to confirm his own words at a previous event: “There are no refs in this game. F**k the rules! We’re gonna win, whatever it takes.” But in Texas, the referee wears a black robe — and the whistle comes with handcuffs.