Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Wednesday launched an investigation into potential Democratic presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke on allegations that he "bribed" Democrats state lawmakers who fled the state.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) has launched an investigation into whether former Rep. Beto O’Rourke’s (D-Texas) political group is breaking laws by allegedly “bankrolling” the out-of-state travel of Democrats attempting to stop the passage of the newly proposed GOP-favored congressional maps.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is moving forward with a plan to remove quorum-breaking House Democrats from office, asserting that by leaving the state they have abandoned their positions, his office announced Tuesday. Paxton said he would begin asking Texas courts on Friday to remove the Democrats if they do not return to Austin.

On Tuesday, Gov. Greg Abbott escalated the feud, filing a lawsuit asking the State Supreme Court to expel Rep. Gene Wu, chair of the House Democratic Caucus. Abbott argued that Wu forfeited his office by leaving the state.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has asked the state Supreme Court on Tuesday to remove from office a top state lawmaker he called the “ringleader” of Democrats who left the state to block a vote on a new congr

Gov. Greg Abbott filed his lawsuit as other top Republicans raised the prospect of intensifying law enforcement actions against Democrats.