AUSTIN, TX – Two Democratic members of the Texas House General Investigating & Ethics Committee must step down and remove themselves from the committee. Representative Poncho Nevarez, D-Eagle Pass, violated campaign finance statutes multiple times, and Representative Joe Moody, D- El Paso, has a clear conflict of interest by working as the Political Director for a Statewide Democratic Campaign.

Representative Poncho Nevarez was fined $15,000 by the Texas Ethics Commission for violating several campaign finance statutes that occurred between January 2013 and January 2015. According to the Texas Tribune, “The Texas Ethics Commission levied the penalty to resolve complaints alleging that Nevárez:

  • “accepted political contributions from corporations and labor organizations,

  • “misreported either the total amount of political contributions maintained or failed to report some political contributions and expenditures,

  • “did not properly disclose political contributions, loans and political expenditures,

  • “failed to disclose employment details for multiple contributors and

  • “made improper personal reimbursements.” [1]

Representative Joe Moody accepted the position as Political Director of the Beto O’Rourke campaign in January. As soon as he accepted this position, Representative Moody should have stepped down. It is a clear conflict of interest to serve as political director on this campaign and to be a member of the Texas House Committee overseeing General Investigating and Ethics.

These Representatives cannot adequately serve the people of Texas on a committee that shapes and forms ethical policies when their own ethics are not above reproach. The Republican Party of Texas calls for these Representatives to do what is ethical and step down from this committee.

[1. https://www.texastribune.org/2018/02/05/state-rep-poncho-nevarez-fined-15000-campaign-finance-report-violation/]