Governor Abbott today urged former Texas Congressman Blake Farenthold (R-Corpus Christi) to pay for the special election that will be needed to replace him in Congress, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
Farenthold quit without following through on a promise to repay the taxpayers the $84,000 in taxpayer money he used to settle a sexual harassment claim against him.
Today, Abbott wrote Farenthold a letter urging him not to milk the taxpayers again.
"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.”
Repayment shouldn't be a problem for Farenthold, who comes from a prominent ranching and oil family in South Texas. His step grandmother is feminist Democratic Party icon Sissy Farenthold.
PHOTO; Official Photo, U.S. Congress