Texas Republicans spoke out against the Defend Texas Liberty PAC after its president, former Republican Texas Rep. Jonathan Stickland, .
Almost all North Texas Republicans condemning Fuentes and calling on fellow lawmakers to donate money from Stickland鈥檚 political action committee to other causes. The House GOP letter, signed by 76 caucus members, sided with Phelan's call for elected officials to publicly disavow their connection with Defend Texas Liberty.
鈥淎nything less is a disservice to our oath and the people we represent," caucus members wrote.
The members said the group holds unwavering support for Israel and called the meeting 鈥減rofoundly disturbing.鈥�
Phelan praised the letter's signatories Wednesday on X, formerly known as Twitter. Among those Phelan publicly thanked was state Rep. Matt Shaheen, R-Plano.
Thank you for standing up for what is right. Antisemitism has no place here, and neither does an organization that entertains those with such hateful viewpoints.
— Dade Phelan (@DadePhelan)
But while most North Texas representatives in the caucus signed on to the letter, three were among the 23 Republicans who did not.
State representatives Nate Schatzline, R-Fort Worth; Tony Tinderholt, R-Arlington; and Richard Hayes, R-Denton, all declined to do so, highlighting a growing rift among Texas Republicans as lawmakers returned to Austin for a special legislative session to tackle school vouchers and border legislation.
In a statement, Schatzline wrote the GOP caucus letter was that has consistently opposed the House speaker. Schatzline and other Phelan critics also objected to his invoking the deadly Hamas attack on Israel over the weekend, during which .
鈥淚 am disappointed that the atrocities that are taking place in Israel are being used to fuel inner-party conflict and I will have no part in it,鈥� he said.
Schatzline's statement did not condemn Fuentes.
Tinderholt said the GOP letter was an attempt to deflect from Attorney General Ken Paxton鈥檚 impeachment trial and also called for Phelan鈥檚 immediate resignation.
鈥淭he Speaker is focused on weaponizing the House Republican Caucus by exploiting the tragic violence in Israel to accomplish his political ends,鈥� .
鈥淚 will never tolerate racism or antisemitism by anyone including Mr. Fuentes,鈥� he added.
Hayes did not respond to requests for comment.
, supported by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, grew louder after Paxton's acquittal in mid-September. In response to Phelan's public criticism, Stickland and Defend Texas Liberty repeated their demand that the speaker step down. Stickland's PAC also attempted to distance itself from Fuentes in .
Patrick has accused Phelan of using the weekend bombing for a political stunt, and in a Wednesday press release, called the speaker鈥檚 criticism of Defend Texas Liberty 鈥渁n orchestrated smear campaign.鈥�
He also confirmed .
鈥淲hen we accepted the contribution from Defend Texas Liberty PAC, there was no hint of any links to any antisemitic organizations or other hate groups,鈥� Patrick said. 鈥淟ike all contributions we receive, they are accepted on good faith. I see no reason to return the PAC鈥檚 contribution.鈥�
