Beto O’Rourke on Tuesday called Ken Paxton a “corrupt, lying thug,” after the attorney general said O’Rourke should be “locked up” for defying a judge’s order.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is calling on the courts to hold former U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke in contempt after the attorney general said O'Rourke defied a court order to stop fundraising for Democrats that fled the state to block a vote on redrawn congressional maps.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is escalating the partisan redistricting fight by asking a judge to hold progressive activist Beto O'Rourke in contempt.