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One of the state’s maximum conservative lawmakers mentioned Wednesday that he has donated cash he won from the leader of a gaggle who recently hosted white supremacist Nick Fuentes.
In a commentary, Frisco Rep. Jared Patterson mentioned that he has given $2,500 to a pro-Israel charity, to account for the in-kind contribution of the similar worth he won from former Rep. Jonathan Stickland, R-Bedford. Stickland is the leader of Defend Texas Liberty, a political motion committee that has donated millions of dollars to best Texas Republicans — together with Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Attorney General Ken Paxton.
“I was appalled to learn Defend Texas Liberty PAC hosted a Nazi sympathizer and Holocaust denier for six hours,” Patterson mentioned in a commentary. “I could not rest until I washed my campaign from the stain of this organization and its leader.”
Patterson is thus far the one legit to publicly reject a donation from Stickland or Defend Texas Liberty PAC since The Texas Tribune reported about Fuentes’ seek advice from.
In his commentary, Patterson mentioned he used to be stunned that different conservatives — together with Reps. Tony Tinderholt, R-Arlington, Steve Toth, R-Woodlands, Brian Harrison, R-Midlothian, and Nate Schatzline, R-Fort Worth — have “either outright refused or don’t appear willing to distance themselves from” Defend Texas Liberty. Those participants have launched statements denouncing Fuentes, however have been silent on Defend Texas Liberty and Stickland.
On social media this week, Toth accused Patterson of “pandering” to progressives thru his statements on Fuentes. After a Houston-area activist famous that Fuentes has mentioned white individuals are in a “holy war” in opposition to Jews and “will make them die,” Toth responded through calling her a “typical liberal liar.”
Paxton has no longer sought to distance himself from Fuentes or the PAC both. The legal professional basic has no longer spoke back to repeated requests for remark or launched a commentary this week. Defend Texas Liberty is funded basically through two West Texas oil billionaires who have given him just about two times as a lot in donations as his second-largest donor Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC, which condemned Fuentes on Monday
The commentary through Patterson — who used to be ranked because the state’s maximum conservative lawmaker this 12 months in response to an research of his legislative votes — is the newest fallout after the Tribune published photos on Sunday of Fuentes on the places of work of Pale Horse Strategies, a consulting company for right-wing applicants that also is owned through Stickland.
Fuentes is an avowed admirer of Adolf Hitler who has wondered if the Holocaust happened, known as for “holy war” in opposition to Jews, fantasized about marrying a 16-year-old when he’s older as a result of that’s “right when the milk is good” and driven conspiracy theories that declare there may be an intentional, Jewish-driven effort to interchange white other folks thru immigration, interracial marriage and the LGBTQ+ group.
“All I need is revenge in opposition to my enemies and a complete Aryan victory,” Fuentes mentioned last year.
His look — which comes as antisemitic and racist violence skyrockets in Texas and nationally — has activate a firestorm that has additional escalated an ongoing civil war within the Texas GOP.
Citing Hamas’ recent attacks on Israel, House Speaker Dade Phelan said Monday that fellow Republicans should redirect any money they received from Defend Texas Liberty to pro-Israel charities. Soon after, 60 members of the Texas House Republican Caucus released a similar statement.
Patrick — who took $3 million from Defend Texas Liberty earlier this year — responded forcefully, accusing Phelan of politicizing Hamas’ attack, calling for him to step down and condemning Fuentes — however no longer Stickland or Defend Texas Liberty. Other main beneficiaries of the PAC followed suit all through Monday, and feature nonetheless but to mention whether or not they’ll lower ties with the deep-pocketed Defend Texas Liberty, Stickland or his West Texas funders.
Fuentes’ relationship with Republicans meanwhile continues to make headlines. On Wednesday, Republican presidential candidate and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis was asked by CNN’s John Berman “how he feels about Republicans associating with” Fuentes, as former President Donald Trump did at Mar-a-Lago last year.
“I would not do that,” responded DeSantis, whose campaign fired a Fuentes follower earlier this year after it was revealed that he had made and then shared a pro-DeSantis video that featured Nazi symbols.
Also on Wednesday, members with the activist group Indivisible Houston protested outside of a radio station in Houston that often hosts Patrick.
“Dan G. Patrick takes Nazi cash,” read one of their banners.
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