Senate scandal rocks Texas as Republican women's group is linked to 'perverted' transgender texts to kids - as JD Vance says sender 'should go to prison'

A Republican women's political group has been identified in newly unsealed court records as being behind a controversial text-message campaign about transgender children in Texas.The Republican Women's Caucus Fund, founded by Florida Republican Congresswoman Kat Cammack, was named alongside an individual identified as John Braun in a deposition from messaging company Infobip, which sent the texts.The Republican Women's Caucus Fund pushed back against the allegations on Friday morning, issuing a statement on X denying any involvement in the Texas campaign.'We did not authorize, fund, direct, coordinate, or participate in these activities in any capacity,' the group said. It added that it had been 'wrongfully named' in the lawsuit, rejected the allegations as false and vowed to pursue 'all available legal remedies' to protect its organization and hold those responsible accountable.'Vice President JD Vance erupted during a Fox News town hall in Fort Worth on Thursday after a mother told him her 11-year-old daughter had received a letter about transitioning from female to male without her parents' knowledge. 'I don't know who sent that letter to your child, but I think the person who sends a letter to an 11-year-old about gender transition, what I call that in my family is a pervert, and that person ought to go to prison,' Vance said.He continued, 'Why are you going around and trying to convince children to transition their gender? That is sick and disgusting.' The Republican Women's Caucus Fund, founded by Florida Republican Congresswoman Kat Cammack, was named alongside an individual identified as John Braun in a deposition from messaging company Infobip, which sent the texts 'I don't know who sent that letter to your child, but I think the person who sends a letter to an 11-year-old about gender transition, what I call that in my family is a pervert, and that person ought to go to prison,' Vice President JD Vance told a mother who's 11-year-old daughter received the text Republicans have seized on Talarico's past comments defending transgender children. In 2023 he voted against a 2023 Texas law restricting gender-affirming medical treatment for minorsHe encouraged the mother to speak with his staff, saying he wanted the Department of Justice to investigate whoever was responsible.Now it has been revealed that the text messages were allegedly orchestrated by supporters of Vance's own party, with the Republican sender posing as the Transgender Education Network of Texas (TENT).The LGBTQ+ advocacy organization insists it had nothing to do with sending the texts and says it has been inundated with threats of violence against its staff.The controversy comes as the transgender issue has become an election lightning rod in Texas' closely fought Senate race between Republican Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico ahead of the midterms on Tuesday.Talarico has been attacked over his past comments defending transgender children and been branded 'Talafreako' by Donald Trump. In a 2023 podcast appearance, he was asked what he loved besides family and friends and replied, 'The trans children who showed up yesterday at the state Capitol to advocate for their humanity.' He voted against a 2023 Texas law restricting gender-affirming medical treatment for minors, prompting GOP attack ads accusing him of supporting taxpayer-funded sex-change surgeries for children.The texts, which began arriving on October 12, appeared to direct Texans to resources for transgender young people, including guides about school bathrooms and gender-affirming care.Days later, physical mailers began arriving at homes across Texas, addressed to the 'student' of the household and claiming to be from an organization called the Texas Transgender Student Union. The pamphlets included information for transgender, nonbinary and questioning young people, encouraging them to contact advocacy organizations if their parents did not support their identity. Republican candidate for US Senate from Texas, Ken Paxton, speaks during a midterm campaign rally with US Vice President JD Vance in Weatherford, Texas, on October 29They also included information about emancipation, the legal process through which a minor can become legally independent of their parents.The materials repeatedly referenced TENT, despite the organization denying any involvement in their creation or distribution.A Travis County judge ordered the identities behind the communications to be revealed after TENT sought answers in court.According to the newly unsealed deposition, Infobip identified the Republican Women's Caucus Fund and Braun as the clients behind the text-message campaign.It remains unclear whether the Republican group or Braun were also responsible for the physical mailers.The company that sent the texts said it had no knowledge of a business relationship with the Wyoming-registered organization listed as the sender of the brochures.TENT has accused those responsible for the communications of deliberately making it appear that the organization was reaching out to children.The group says it has faced harassment and threats, forcing it to divert resources towards security and legal action.West Texas Republican District Attorney Sarah Stogner has also opened a criminal investigation into the physical mailers over potential forgery.Republican Texas State Representative Jeff Leach had also asked Paxton to investigate who was behind the materials.The Daily Mail has contacted Cammack and the Republican Women's Caucus Fund for comment.