AUSTIN, Texas (KEYE) — As the quorum-breaking standoff at the Texas Capitol enters its fifth day, questions are mounting over who’s funding the Texas House Democrats who left the state to block a redistricting vote, and whether that funding is legal.

More than 50 Democratic lawmakers fled Texas on Sunday to prevent Republicans from passing a mid-decade congressional map, which could help the GOP flip up to five U.S. House seats.

By breaking quorum, Democrats shut down business in the House, sparking a political firestorm that has now escalated into threats of arrest, removal from office, and a formal investigation into how their travel is being paid for.

Asked how expensive the quorum break has been for him personally, State Rep. John Bucy III (D-Georgetown) told CBS Austin, “You know, I don't know the answer to that. We’re going to deal with any cost, any fines or penalties after the fact.”

But the costs are adding up fast.

Fines of $500 per day, hotel bills, airfare, and meals are just the beginning. Former U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke’s political action committee, Powered by People, has been helping fund the Democrats’ out-of-state efforts. National Democratic groups are now stepping in as well, including House Majority PAC, the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC), and U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D–NY), who are all helping raise money to keep Texas Democrats out of state.

Republican leaders say that funding may violate the law.

“Taking and receiving a payment, like they have, to escape or not take a vote, subjects them to forfeiture of their seat,” said Gov. Greg Abbott (R) during an interview with Fox News on Wednesday.

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Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has now launched a formal investigation into O’Rourke’s PAC. In a statement, Paxton accused the organization of operating an “illegal financial influence scheme” and said he is demanding internal communications and documents related to the Democrats’ travel funding.

“Bribery in the state of Texas is a felony,” Abbott added. “Felony is the type of offense that we can issue papers to have these Democrats brought back.”

In a statement to CBS Austin, O’Rourke fired back: “The guy impeached for bribery is going after the folks trying to stop the theft of five congressional seats.”

It’s a sentiment Texas Rep. John Bucy III (D-Georgetown) shares.

“I think Ken Paxton has enough of his own legal trouble,” Bucy said. “He doesn't need to be worrying about us.”

Meanwhile, the Democratic caucus faced a brief security scare early Wednesday morning when their hotel in St. Charles, Illinois, just outside of Chicago, was evacuated due to a bomb threat.

“We jumped out of bed, threw on clothes, and the whole caucus gathered outside,” Bucy recalled.

Authorities say the bomb threat turned out to be a false alarm, but Democrats say the incident is just another reminder of the pressure surrounding the ongoing redistricting fight.

Despite legal threats and political pressure, the lawmakers say they’re not coming back this week.

“Absolutely not,” Bucy told CBS Austin. “We have made a commitment to kill this special session. The governor has made a mistake by adding this rigged redistricting to the call.”

Friday is the deadline that House Speaker Dustin Burrows and Attorney General Paxton gave Texas Democrats to return before facing potential legal action.

It’s also the date the Texas Supreme Court gave Democratic Rep. Gene Wu to respond to a legal filing from Abbott, who is seeking to have Wu removed from office for participating in the walkout.