Travis County prosecutors are reviewing a complaint contending that Speaker Tom Craddick illegally channeled $150,000 to fellow legislators to boost his bid to return as House leader.
On Jan. 10, Craddick revitalized an almost dormant political committee, Texans for Jobs & Opportunity Build a Secure Future, with a $250,000 donation from his campaign account, according to public documents.
It was the only money the political committee had when it made $50,000 donations the next day to Democratic Reps. Aaron Peña of Edinburg, Kino Flores of Palmview and Kevin Bailey of Houston, according to campaign finance reports cited in a complaint filed Monday. The three are past supporters of Craddick and are facing challenges from within their party. A fourth Democrat, Dawnna Dukes of Austin, turned down the money.
Monday's complaint, filed by a campaign finance watchdog group, comes in the middle of a heated campaign against Craddick's re-election as speaker and raises questions about what has become a common practice: speakers donating campaign cash indirectly to fellow lawmakers.
Craig McDonald of Texans for Public Justice filed the complaint with Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle. It is the same group that complained to Earle four years ago about then-U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, who is awaiting trial on money laundering charges brought by Earle.
"Texas law is clear: You can't buy the speaker's gavel by bankrolling the campaigns of House candidates," McDonald said Monday. "Nor can you make a political contribution under someone else's name. It's hard to argue that the Texas Jobs PAC didn't launder Craddick's money. By its own accounting, it didn't have another cent to its name
Peña said his $50,000 check just showed up in the mail. He said he didn't know about the committee until he read about it later. "I don't travel in those circles," he said.
He dismissed the complaint as "gotcha politics" and said he won't return the money, adding, "It's spent."
McDonald's complaint suggests that Craddick violated state law by channeling money to the three Democrats. McDonald said the transaction violated the so-called speaker's statute, which prohibits anyone, including a speaker candidate, from spending campaign donations to aid or defeat a speaker candidate.
Aaron Pena is a sell out. No if's about that! Aaron Pena should dropout of the race. You say you want to fight corruption. But then your taking money that is laundered. You my friend are a poor excuse for a human being.
