Beto O’Rourke’s ties to his wealthy family draw scrutiny, and attack ads, in US Senate race

[Elderberry]

Houston Chronicle by Kevin Diaz 10/12/2018

 Politically progressive, photogenic, and hip, El Paso Congressman Beto O’Rourke has electrified Democrats with a cool factor that fuels his underdog quest in Texas to take down conservative Republican icon Sen. Ted Cruz.

Running for the U.S. Senate simply as “Beto,” O’Rourke has sought the reformist high-ground with a “people powered” campaign rejecting special interest and corporate PAC money, notwithstanding his roots in a wealthy, politically-connected family that has not been immune to scandal.

A former city council member and three-term member of Congress, O’Rourke’s early life and career has only recently come under increased public scrutiny, partly through Republican attacks focused on his family ties.

On the city council, he was accused of conflicts of interest in 2006 for pushing an urban renewal plan involving his wealthy father-in-law, a multi-national real estate investor once described as “the richest man in El Paso.”

As a member of Congress, and an investor with an extensive portfolio, he was criticized for taking part in initial public stock offerings in Twitter and several other businesses, an ethics violation that he quickly remedied when it was brought to his attention.

Along the way his mother, who was his partner in several business ventures, ran a family furniture store that was targeted by the IRS in a $630,000 tax fraud case in 2010.

None of those controversies hurt his progression from Columbia University in New York, then bass player in an underground punk band, then tech entrepreneur in El Paso, and finally a city council member and congressman. But until recently his early life had hardly registered a blip on the nation’s political radar.

Now amid the hottest Senate race in the country, the picture that emerges is more complicated than O’Rourke’s image as fresh-faced political outsider taking on Washington’s entrenched political interests with nothing but enthusiasm, audacity, and small-dollar donations.

The scion of one of El Paso’s foremost families, O’Rourke came of age surrounded by business and civic leaders who saw it as their mission to advance their city into a cultural and commercial hub - the jewel of the American Southwest.

A fourth-generation Texan, O’Rourke is the son of a politically active businessman who worked with former Democratic Gov. Mark White. Patrick O’Rourke, who was killed in a bicycle accident in 2001, once ran for Congress -- as a Republican.

More: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/politics/texas/article/Beto-O-Rourke-s-ties-to-his-wealthy-family-13302228.php

[Frank Cannon]

described as “the richest man in El Paso.”

Isn't that about on par as the smartest guy in West Virginia?

[austingirl]

Robert Francis' mommy was probably laundering money for the drug cartels. The story of his daddy getting killed on a bicycle in New Mexico is suspicious as well.

[GrouchoTex]

described as “the richest man in El Paso.”

Isn't that about on par as the smartest guy in West Virginia?

Or as William F. Buckley,Jr. put it, like having the "Tallest building in Wichita".

[Night Hides Not]

Robert Francis' mommy was probably laundering money for the drug cartels. The story of his daddy getting killed on a bicycle in New Mexico is suspicious as well.

His father's death wasn't as suspicious as it seems. IIRC, he was riding his bicycle in the early morning hours in a less populated area outside of town. Pat O'Rourke died over a decade after leaving office.

https://thegodofrage.wordpress.com/2018/03/10/beto-orourke-clean-cut-man-with-a-dirty-family-file/

The reporting here seems a bit over the top, the same of which we decry when the Times or the Post report with hyperbolic verbiage.

Then in 2001, Pat Francis O’Rourke died in a freak accident, in which a pickup truck rammed him from behind while biking, crushing him to death underneath the tires before speeding off. A suspect was never apprehended. Investigations concluded no foul play despite his past incident in 1983, and his abrupt retirement from law.

While there is no concrete evidence of direct collusion between O’Rourke’s family and the cartels, these points must be noted. In most cases, the evidence compiled strongly suggests some sort of activity between Beto O’Rourke, his family and the cartels. In a sense, it is possible his policies might be influenced by these strong cartels and businesses associated, and these activities may have ended up murdering his father.

I lived in El Paso from 82-97, and knew several fine folks who worked at Charlotte's. There was never any hint of impropriety back then.

[austingirl]

His father's death wasn't as suspicious as it seems. IIRC, he was riding his bicycle in the early morning hours in a less populated area outside of town. Pat O'Rourke died over a decade after leaving office.

https://thegodofrage.wordpress.com/2018/03/10/beto-orourke-clean-cut-man-with-a-dirty-family-file/

The reporting here seems a bit over the top, the same of which we decry when the Times or the Post report with hyperbolic verbiage.


I lived in El Paso from 82-97, and knew several fine folks who worked at Charlotte's. There was never any hint of impropriety back then.

I have no doubt there were good people who worked there with no knowledge of the O'Rourke's questionable business dealings. Yet there is the matter of a $630,000 IRS tax fraud case for all those massive furniture sales for cash.

[corbe]

   The dope in his Dad's jeep and the recall efforts while he was on City Council was something I didn't know but this kicked my azz, his Father In Law donated to Cruz in 2012. 

   FTA:

Politically, Sanders and his business associates have boosted O’Rourke’s political career with generous donations, even as the majority of Sanders’ contributions have gone to Republicans - including Cruz, to whom he contributed $10,000 for his first Senate run in 2012.

[Night Hides Not]

I have no doubt there were good people who worked there with no knowledge of the O'Rourke's questionable business dealings. Yet there is the matter of a $630,000 IRS tax fraud case for all those massive furniture sales for cash.

...which were roughly ten years after I left El Paso.