AUSTIN, TX - A House Investigative Committee has declined to take action in an inquiry into allegations against a Texoma lawmaker.

Texas District 62 representative Larry Phillips was accused of threatening to use redistricting to punish the political adversaries of Texas Speaker of the House, fellow Republican Joe Straus.

The House General Investigating and Ethics Committee spent more than three hours behind closed doors questioning lawmakers involved. District 62 Rep Larry Phillips, a high ranking member of the committee, was identified as the source of the threats by the Associated Press. However, Phillips adamantly denied those allegations in a statement sent to First News this afternoon.

Phillips said he would step aside from his official duties on the committee during the proceedings. The Committee's chairman said today they did not have sufficient evidence of misconduct.