https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/robert-downen/The latest news by Robert Downen.enWed, 08 May 2024 14:54:52 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/08/dade-phelan-texas-house-interim-charges/The Beaumont Republican issued his interim charges even as it remains unclear whether he’ll be reelected.By Joshua Fechter and Robert DownenWed, 08 May 2024 14:54:52 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/08/dade-phelan-texas-house-interim-charges/House Speaker Dade Phelan speaks with other representatives during a special legislative session at the state capitol in Austin, Texas, on Nov. 17, 2023.House Speaker Dade Phelan speaks with other represenatives during a special legislative session at the state capitol in Austin, Texas, on Nov. 17, 2023.Julius Shieh/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/25/ut-austin-palestine-protest-fallout/President Jay Hartzell defended the response but faculty criticized the presence of armed state troopers. Fifty-seven people were arrested.By Robert Downen, Ikram Mohamed and William MelhadoThu, 25 Apr 2024 11:02:57 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/25/ut-austin-palestine-protest-fallout/Protesters link arms at the University of Texas at Austin during a pro-Palestine demonstration on April 24, 2024.Protesters link arms on the campus of UT-Austin on April 24, 2024.Julius Shieh for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/12/jonathan-stickland-matt-rinaldi-white-supremacy-scandal/The former lawmaker registered “RaTmasTeR Holdings” along with Texas GOP Chair Matt Rinaldi. The name is a nod to Stickland’s alias as an infamous internet troll.By Robert DownenFri, 12 Apr 2024 16:25:35 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/12/jonathan-stickland-matt-rinaldi-white-supremacy-scandal/Former state Rep. Jonathan Stickland, R-Bedford, on the Texas House floor on May 21, 2019.State Rep. Jonathan Stickland, R-Bedford, on the House floor on May 21, 2019.Juan Figueroa/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/05/texas-supreme-court-justice-john-devine-2024-election/Justice John Devine’s comments at a conservative event are the latest to prompt concerns about his impartiality as a jurist.By Robert DownenFri, 05 Apr 2024 14:47:57 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/05/texas-supreme-court-justice-john-devine-2024-election/Texas Supreme Court Justice John Devine, far left, with fellow jurists on the state House floor in Austin in 2013.Texas Supreme Court Justice John Devine, far left, with fellow judges on the House floor in Austin in 2013.Bob Daemmrichhttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/04/tim-dunn-joe-straus-christian-texas/Straus, who is Jewish, publicly confirmed the conversation for the first time Thursday. It had previously been reported by Texas Monthly.By Jasper Scherer and Robert DownenThu, 04 Apr 2024 15:43:04 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/04/tim-dunn-joe-straus-christian-texas/Joe Straus speaks at The Texas Tribune Festival on Sept. 25, 2022.Sandi Villarreal, deputy editor for digital at Texas Monthly, moderates a panel with US Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, and former speaker of the Texas House Joe Straus at The Texas Tribune Festival on Sept. 24, 2022 in Austin, TX.Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/28/texas-ethics-political-disclosure-social-media-influenceable/The Tribune reported last year that a company called Influenceable LLC was paid to recruit influencers to defend Attorney General Ken Paxton over his impeachment.By Robert DownenThu, 28 Mar 2024 15:22:48 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/28/texas-ethics-political-disclosure-social-media-influenceable/The Texas Ethics Commission took the first step in adopting rules that would require social media influencers to include political advertising disclosures.The Texas Ethics Commission took the first step in adopting rules that would require social media influencers to include political advertising disclosures when they are paid to post political advertising online.Photo Illustration by Kylie Cooper/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/27/texas-republican-party-matt-rinaldi-chair/Some Republicans and candidates are calling for a serious change, warning that the party could be vulnerable in future elections because of the ongoing disunity that has defined Rinaldi’s two terms.By Robert DownenWed, 27 Mar 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/27/texas-republican-party-matt-rinaldi-chair/https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/18/abraham-george-texas-gop-gun-police/Abraham George is running to lead the state party with backing from current Chair Matt Rinaldi, who announced last week he will not seek reelection. He was not arrested or charged.By Robert DownenMon, 18 Mar 2024 15:17:31 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/18/abraham-george-texas-gop-gun-police/Abraham George, chair of the Collin County Republican party, speaks at the Labor day picnic in Plano, Texas on Sept. 2, 2023. He is a candidate for the chair of the Texas GOP.Abraham George, chairman of the Collin County Republican party, speaks at the Labor day picnic in Plano, Texas on Sept. 2, 2023.Azul Sordo for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/15/matt-rinaldi-texas-republican-chair-reelection/Rinaldi’s three-year tenure as chair of the GOP saw vicious infighting and historic gains for the state’s far right.By Robert DownenFri, 15 Mar 2024 16:19:32 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/15/matt-rinaldi-texas-republican-chair-reelection/Texas GOP Chair Matt Rinaldi at a news conference on Aug. 30, 2021.Texas GOP Chair Matt Rinaldi at a press conference on Aug. 30, 2021, amid talk about punishing House Democrats for breaking quorum.Michael Gonzalez/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/08/texas-ethics-commission-supreme-court-michael-quinn-sullivan/In 2014, and following a two-year investigation, the Texas Ethics Commission fined Sullivan $10,000 for failing to register as a lobbyist.By Robert DownenFri, 08 Mar 2024 16:41:25 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/08/texas-ethics-commission-supreme-court-michael-quinn-sullivan/Michael Quinn Sullivan of Empower Texans speaks at a conservative grassroots rally for property tax relief and reform at the Texas Capitol on Tuesday, April 16, 2019.Michael Quinn Sullivan of Empower Texans speaks at a conservative grassroots rally for property tax relief and reform at the Texas Capitol on Tuesday, April 16, 2019.Juan Figueroa/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/08/tim-dunn-farris-wilks-defend-texas-liberty-election/All told, 11 of the 28 House candidates supported by Tim Dunn and Farris Wilks won their primaries outright, and another eight are headed to runoffs this May.By Robert DownenFri, 08 Mar 2024 12:17:26 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/08/tim-dunn-farris-wilks-defend-texas-liberty-election/Tim Dunn speaks during The Texas Tribune Festival on Sept. 24, 2016.Tim Dunn, CEO of CrownQuest Operating and chairman of Empower Texans, speaks during The Texas Tribune Festival on Sept. 24, 2016.Brett Buchanan for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/05/john-devine-brian-walker-texas-supreme-court-primary/Devine will face 281st District Judge Christine Vinh Weems in November’s general election.By Robert DownenWed, 06 Mar 2024 15:53:56 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/05/john-devine-brian-walker-texas-supreme-court-primary/https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/05/texas-republican-primary-lacey-hull-jared-woodfill/Woodfill’s endorsement by Paxton was decried by some Republicans because of his close ties to Southern Baptist leader Paul Pressler, who has been accused multiple times of sexual abuse.By Robert DownenWed, 06 Mar 2024 00:42:26 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/05/texas-republican-primary-lacey-hull-jared-woodfill/State Rep. Lacey Hull, R-Houston, prepares to vote on a bill on the House floor at the state Capitol in Austin on May 12, 2023.State Rep. Lacey Hull, R-Houston, prepares to vote on a bill on the House floor at the state Capitol in Austin on May 12, 2023.Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/04/texas-wildfires-panhandle-voting-polling-locations/Candidates continued their campaigns at a subdued pace, as they focused on getting resources for fire victims.By Karen Brooks Harper and Robert DownenMon, 04 Mar 2024 17:04:35 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/04/texas-wildfires-panhandle-voting-polling-locations/https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/27/greg-abbott-tim-dunn-paxton-vouchers-republican-primary-texas/Texans For Lawsuit Reform and pro-voucher groups are also spending millions.By Robert Downen and Karen Brooks HarperTue, 27 Feb 2024 16:49:03 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/27/greg-abbott-tim-dunn-paxton-vouchers-republican-primary-texas/Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signs a bill banning COVID-19 vaccine mandates at the Governor's Mansion in Austin on Nov. 10, 2023.Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signs a bill banning COVID-19 vaccine mandates at the Governor's Mansion in Austin on Nov. 10, 2023.Julius Shieh/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/27/john-devine-texas-supreme-court-conservatives/Devine, a former anti-abortion activist, faces a heated primary challenge that has focused on questions about his ethics.By Robert DownenTue, 27 Feb 2024 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/27/john-devine-texas-supreme-court-conservatives/Texas Supreme Court Justice John Devine, far left, with fellow judges on the House floor in Austin in 2013.Texas Supreme Court Justice John Devine, far left, with fellow judges on the House floor in Austin in 2013.Bob Daemmrichhttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/13/texas-supreme-court-john-devine-paul-pressler-jared-woodfill/Two decades ago, John Devine worked with the law firm of Paul Pressler and Jared Woodfill, later defendants in a Southern Baptist abuse case.By Robert DownenTue, 13 Feb 2024 12:13:41 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/13/texas-supreme-court-john-devine-paul-pressler-jared-woodfill/https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/10/texas-republican-party-antisemite-resolution-defend-liberty-fuentes/The party’s executive committee also formally censured House Speaker Dade Phelan on Saturday.By Robert DownenSat, 10 Feb 2024 16:17:52 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/10/texas-republican-party-antisemite-resolution-defend-liberty-fuentes/The Texas Republican Party's executive committee on Saturday approved a resolution stating the party won't associate with antisemites, and also voted to censure House Speaker Dade Phelan.Republican Party emblems and signs at the Republican Party of Texas office in downtown Austin.Eddie Gaspar/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/08/kyle-biedermann-bryan-slaton-texas-house/In a statement, Biedermann said the point he was trying to make was that leaders “selectively punish impropriety.”By Karen Brooks Harper and Robert DownenThu, 08 Feb 2024 14:17:09 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/08/kyle-biedermann-bryan-slaton-texas-house/Former state Reps. Bryan Slaton, Kyle Biedermann on the House floor at the state Capitol in Austin on April 26, 2021.Former state Reps. Bryan Slaton, Kyle Biedermann on the House floor at the state Capitol in Austin on April 26, 2021.Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/07/jared-woodfill-kim-ogg-fraud-investigation/Woodfill’s former client fears that politics played a role in the case, which she said was mishandled and abruptly closed by the Harris County DA’s office.By Robert DownenWed, 07 Feb 2024 14:10:48 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/07/jared-woodfill-kim-ogg-fraud-investigation/Jared Woodfill speaks during a reception for for his campaign at the Federal American Grill in Houston on Monday, Feb. 5, 2024.Jared Woodfill speaks during a reception for for his campaign at the Federal American Grill in Houston on Monday, Feb. 5, 2024.Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribune