WASHINGTON _ Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is asking former Rep. Blake Farenthold to pay for the June 30 special election to fill the seat the congressman vacated when he resigned earlier this month.
Abbott wrote a letter to Farenthold on Wednesday to "demand" that he "cover all costs" for the June 30 special election in Texas' 27th District.
Farenthold resigned April 6 amid an Ethics Committee probe into the congressman and his office for alleged sexual harassment, inappropriate comments to staff, and discrimination based on gender.
When media reports surfaced in December that Farenthold's office had paid a former employee an $84,000 settlement over such claims, he promised to reimburse the Treasury Department fund that covers member office's labor and workplace disputes.
Farenthold has not yet followed through on that promise.
Abbott urged Farenthold to instead distribute that $84,000 among the counties in the 27th District that will be responsible for staffing and assembling poll locations and counting ballots.
"This seat must be filled, and the counties and taxpayers in the 27th Congressional District should not again pay the price for your actions," Abbott said.
