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Governor demands Farenthold cover emergency special election costs

Posted at 1:26 PM, Apr 25, 2018
and last updated 2018-04-25 14:26:30-04

Governor Greg Abbott today sent a letter to former United States Congressman Blake Farenthold demanding that he cover all costs for the upcoming emergency special election for the 27th Congressional District of Texas. The emergency special election is being held to fill the seat now vacant following Mr. Farenthold’s resignation.

"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,” writes Governor Abbott. “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.”

The emergency special election will be held in Congressional District 27 on Saturday, June 30, 2018. In the event of a runoff, that election will likely be held in September.