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Police Reports Detail O'Rourke's '98 Drunken-Driving Arrest

Police Reports Detail O'Rourke's '98 Drunken-Driving Arrest
U.S. Rep Beto O'Rourke (D-Texas) of El Paso speaks during a town hall meeting at the Quail Point Lodge on August 16 in Horseshoe Bay, Texas. (Chris Covatta/Getty Images)

Saturday, 01 September 2018 10:57 AM EDT

Police documents reveal previously unreported details about a decades-old drunken-driving arrest of Democratic Senate candidate Beto O'Rourke.

O'Rourke has long acknowledged the 1998 drunken-driving arrest, saying he made a serious mistake.

The Houston Chronicle and the San Antonio Express-News recently obtained copies of state and local police reports pertaining to the arrest. They show O'Rourke was found intoxicated after losing control of his vehicle on Interstate 10 and hitting a truck. Nobody was hurt in the accident in Anthony, Texas, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) from El Paso. A witness says O'Rourke tried to drive away, but the witness stopped him until officers arrived.

O'Rourke had just turned 26. He did a court-ordered diversion program and a drunken-driving charge was dismissed.

O'Rourke is now a congressman. He's challenging Republican Sen. Ted Cruz in November.

© Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Police documents reveal previously unreported details about a decades-old drunken-driving arrest of Democratic Senate candidate Beto O'Rourke.
beto orourke, democrat, senate, drunk driving, crime, arrest
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2018-57-01
Saturday, 01 September 2018 10:57 AM
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