A Republican women’s political organization has been identified in newly unsealed court documents as allegedly being connected to a disputed text-message campaign targeting transgender children in Texas.
The Republican Women’s Caucus Fund, established by Florida Republican Representative Kat Cammack, was named along with a person identified as John Braun in a deposition by Infobip, the messaging company that transmitted the texts.
The group denied the allegations Friday morning, saying on X that it had no role in the Texas campaign.
“We did not authorize, fund, direct, coordinate, or participate in these activities in any capacity,” the Republican Women’s Caucus Fund said. The organization said it had been “wrongfully named” in the lawsuit, called the claims false and said it would pursue “all available legal remedies” to defend itself and hold those responsible accountable.
The disclosures came shortly after Vice President JD Vance reacted angrily during a Fox News town hall in Fort Worth on Thursday. A mother told him that her 11-year-old daughter had received a letter discussing a transition 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 added, “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 a person identified as John Braun in a deposition from messaging company Infobip, which transmitted 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 whose 11-year-old daughter received the message
Republicans have highlighted Talarico’s previous comments in support of transgender children. In 2023, he voted against a Texas law limiting gender-affirming medical treatment for minors
Vance urged the mother to contact his staff and said he wanted the Justice Department to investigate whoever had sent the letter.
The newly unsealed records now indicate that the text campaign was allegedly organized by supporters of Vance’s own political party, who purportedly presented themselves as the Transgender Education Network of Texas, or TENT.
The LGBTQ+ advocacy group has denied any involvement in the messages and said its employees have since faced a wave of violent threats.
The dispute has unfolded as transgender rights have become a major campaign issue in Texas’ closely contested Senate race between Republican Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico ahead of Tuesday’s midterm elections.
Talarico has faced Republican attacks over remarks supporting transgender children and has been labeled “Talafreako” by Donald Trump.
During a podcast appearance in 2023, Talarico was asked what he loved apart from his family and friends. He responded, “The trans children who showed up yesterday at the state Capitol to advocate for their humanity.”
He also voted against a 2023 Texas law restricting gender-affirming treatment for minors. Republican advertisements subsequently accused him of supporting taxpayer-funded sex-change surgeries for children.
The texts began reaching Texans on October 12 and appeared to point recipients toward resources for transgender young people, including information about school bathrooms and gender-affirming care.
Several days later, printed mailers started arriving at homes across the state. Addressed to the household’s “student,” they claimed to come from an organization called the Texas Transgender Student Union.
The pamphlets offered information for transgender, nonbinary and questioning young people, including advice to contact advocacy groups if their parents did not accept their identity.
Republican Texas Senate candidate Ken Paxton speaks at a midterm campaign rally with US Vice President JD Vance in Weatherford, Texas, on October 29
They also described emancipation, the legal procedure that can allow a minor to become independent from their parents.
TENT was repeatedly mentioned in the materials, even though the organization has insisted that it did not create or distribute them.
A Travis County judge ordered the identities behind the communications disclosed after TENT went to court seeking answers.
In the newly released deposition, Infobip identified the Republican Women’s Caucus Fund and Braun as the clients associated with the text campaign.
It is not known whether the Republican group or Braun also played a role in producing or sending the physical mailers.
Infobip said it was unaware of any business relationship with the Wyoming-registered organization listed as the sender of the brochures.
TENT has accused those behind the campaign of intentionally making it appear as though the organization was directly contacting children.
The group said the resulting harassment and threats have forced it to redirect money and staff toward security measures and legal proceedings.
Sarah Stogner, the Republican district attorney for West Texas, has launched a criminal inquiry into the mailers over possible forgery.
Republican Texas State Representative Jeff Leach has also urged Paxton to investigate the source of the materials.
Our News Outlet has contacted Cammack and the Republican Women’s Caucus Fund for comment.
