1. United States
2. Texas
3. Letter

I am writing to request a formal review regarding a town hall event held by Representative Andy Biggs, which, according to LD12 First Vice Chair Patty Porter, was closed to all non-Republicans. Porter stated: “Tonight’s town hall is a private event. I have been reminded that only members of the Republican Party will be admitted into the venue.” This raises serious legal, ethical, and constitutional concerns about taxpayer representation, potential misuse of public funds, and violations of First Amendment and Equal Protection rights. Representative Biggs is elected to serve all constituents, regardless of political affiliation. If public funds, facilities, or resources were used for this event, its exclusionary nature may violate multiple legal and ethical provisions. Legal Concerns 1. First Amendment Violation (Viewpoint Discrimination) • Public officials cannot deny access to government functions based on political affiliation, as this may constitute viewpoint discrimination under the First Amendment. Courts have ruled that elected officials must provide equal access to government-sponsored events. 2. Taxation Without Representation (Equal Protection Clause, Fourteenth Amendment) • If taxpayer-funded resources were used for a partisan-restricted event, this raises taxation without representation concerns, denying certain constituents access to their publicly funded representation. 3. Misuse of Public Funds (House Ethics & Federal Law Violations) • House Ethics Rules prohibit using government resources for partisan or campaign-related activities. If any of the following were used, it may constitute misuse of public funds: • Government-paid staff or security • Publicly funded communications or office space • Any taxpayer-funded resources supporting the event 4. Hatch Act Violation (If Federal Employees Were Involved) • While the Hatch Act (5 U.S.C. §§ 7321-7326) applies to federal employees, it prohibits using government resources for partisan events. If federal employees or taxpayer-funded staff facilitated this event, further legal and ethical violations may exist. Request for Congressional Review Given these concerns, I request: 1. Clarification on whether this exclusionary event reflects a new policy within the Republican Party. 2. A review of whether this event violated House Ethics Rules, the First Amendment, or federal law. 3. An investigation into whether taxpayer resources were used to support a partisan-exclusive event. As a citizen and taxpayer, I expect elected officials to provide equal access to all constituents. I urge Congress to take action to ensure accountability and uphold constitutional rights.