REPORT: BONNEN LIKELY VIOLATED ‘TOOTHLESS’ STATE LAW

  

A group of legal experts has concluded that Texas House Speaker Dennis Bonnen—in their words, ‘likely violated state law and House rules’, when he offered a political activist media credentials in exchange for targeting certain incumbents in the upcoming Republican primary elections.

According to the Houston Chronicle, the experts found Bonnen’s offer ran contrary to toothless state laws that forbid lawmakers from offering or accepting favors that influence their work for Texas taxpayers.

The report was requested by the House General Investigating Committee and released to all members.

They also found that the facts did not support prosecution of Bonnen or state Rep. Dustin Burrows for breaking state laws regarding bribes, gifts or elections.

House members signaled there would be no further punishment of Bonnen, who announced in October he will not run for re-election in 2020. 

Committee chair and state Rep. Morgan Meyer said Friday that the release of the report Friday to other lawmakers, but not the public, “concludes the committee’s investigation.”