Cruz brings up tax fraud case involving O’Rourke’s mother in a new attack

The fight between Ted Cruz and Beto O’Rourke gets personal as the senator brings up what he calls O’Rourke’s “family history of breaking tax laws.”

In a news release posted on his campaign website titled “Hypocrite Alert,” Cruz said O’Rourke has been, “hiding his mother’s conviction for tax fraud.”

ABC-7 reported in 2010 when Melissa O’Rourke, owner of the now-shuttered Charlotte’s Furniture and O’Rourke’s mother, pleaded guilty to not reporting $630,000 in income, which came in a cash payment for furniture.

The candidate was asked about Cruz’s allegations. According to the Texas Tribune, he told the El Paso Times that he is “very proud” of his mom, that “the store made a mistake and the issue was resolved” and that he did not want to engage with Cruz’s personal attacks.