Greg Abbott wants Blake Farenthold to pay for the special election to replace him
Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott says that former U.S. GOP Rep. Blake Farenthold should cover the cost of the special election on June 30 to fill his seat.
Abbott says the $84,000 in taxpayer money that Farenthold used to settle a sexual harassment claim has not been paid back, and he should, therefore, be responsible for covering the cost of the election two months from now (plus a possible runoff in September).
More, from the letter from Abbott to Farenthold.
"While you have publicly offered to reimburse the $84,000 in taxpayer funds you wrongly used to settle a sexual harassment claim, there is no legal recourse requiring you to give that money back to Congress. I am urging you to give those funds back to the counties in your district to cover the costs of the June 30, 2018, special election. This seat must be filled, and the counties and taxpayers in the 27th Congressional District should not again pay the price for your actions.”
