Austin, TX – A Texas House member is under criminal investigation over air travel he received from a beer distributor.
A lawyer for Democrat Kino Flores of Plano today confirmed the investigation, but says he doesn't think the legislator violated any laws.
Attorney Roy Minton says Flores is not going to resign, and the lawmaker has repaid about $1,500 for two or three trips.
Flores, who's an ally of embattled GOP House Speaker Tom Craddick, flew between Austin and the Rio Grande Valley on a plane owned by the LaMantia family.
The family owns a Budweiser distributorship in South Texas and is developing a $23 million horse racetrack in Hidalgo County.
Flores heads the committee that oversees gambling legislation.
Minton confirms the Travis County District Attorney's office is investigating.
Flores has been criticized for his consulting work on behalf of a company that receives state contract money, some of it flowing from legislation Flores pushed in the Texas House.
Flores has said he sees no conflict of interest with the arrangement.