Paxton sued O’Rourke and his political group last week, arguing that the group was deceptively fundraising for and illegally supporting Texas Democrats' walkout.

Paxton’s request to jail a political rival comes amid calls by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, Paxton and their allies to arrest dozens of Democratic state lawmakers who left Texas to prevent Abbott from holding a special session to pass his ultra-partisan redistricting measure — one expected to net Republicans five seats in Congress.

Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced Tuesday that he is moving to hold former Democratic Texas Rep. Robert “Beto”