Texas is seeing more legal fireworks as Attorney General Ken Paxton charges ahead with a contempt motion against Frisco Independent School District. The charge alleges the district ignored a temporary restraining order on electioneering, refusing to put a stop to using official channels for political advocacy.
Reports confirm that Paxton took legal action against Frisco ISD last month, accusing it of illegal electioneering by pushing for a specific policy with state resources, a clear contradiction of Texas law. After being granted a restraining order to halt these actions, the school district seemingly defied it within hours, using an official account to signal support for certain policy positions, according to a statement obtained by the Texas Attorney General's office.
Attorney General Ken Paxton Files Contempt Motion Against Frisco ISD for Violating Restraining Order Against Illegal Electioneering: https://t.co/O1kJhe7v9r
— Texas Attorney General (@TXAG) March 14, 2024
This legal tussle comes amidst constraints on Paxton's ability to pursue criminal proceedings, a result of the Court of Criminal Appeals' ruling in Texas v. Stephens. Still, the AG is seeking civil remedies to push back against what he considers blatant violations of the Texas Election Code which plainly states that state or local funds should not be used to influence elections in favor of any candidate, measure, or political party.
With the criminal path closed, for now, Paxton's office has communicated an unequivocal message: transgressors can and will be pursued through every available avenue to safeguard Texas elections. Local districts have been put on notice that brushing against the law might not just invite civil charges but can potentially lead to criminal prosecution by local authorities, despite the current prohibition from the AG's side, as noted in the aforementioned release from Paxton's office.
