Ken Paxton

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Ken Paxton
Image of Ken Paxton
Attorney General of Texas
Tenure

2023 - Present

Term ends

2027

Years in position

0

Prior offices
Texas House of Representatives District 70

Texas State Senate District 8

Attorney General of Texas

Compensation

Base salary

$153,750

Elections and appointments
Last elected

November 8, 2022

Education

Bachelor's

Baylor University, 1985

Graduate

Baylor University, 1986

Law

University of Virginia School of Law, 1991

Personal
Profession
Attorney
Contact

Ken Paxton (Republican Party) is the Attorney General of Texas. He assumed office on September 18, 2023. His current term ends on January 1, 2027.

Paxton (Republican Party) ran for re-election for Attorney General of Texas. He won in the general election on November 8, 2022.

On September 16, 2023, the Texas Senate acquitted Paxton on 16 articles of impeachment, and he resumed serving as attorney general on September 18, 2023.[1][2] The Senate also voted to dismiss the four other article of impeachments that had been held in abeyance at the start of the trial.[3] Paxton had been suspended from his position as attorney general after the Texas House of Representatives voted to impeach him on May 27, 2023. Click here for more information.

Paxton assumed office in 2015 and was re-elected in 2022. He succeeded Greg Abbott (R), who served as attorney general from 2002 until 2015, when he was sworn in as governor of Texas.

Prior to becoming attorney general of Texas, Paxton served in the Texas House of Representatives, representing District 70 from 2003 to 2013.[4][5] He was a Republican member of the Texas State Senate, representing District 8 from 2013 to 2015. Paxton did not seek re-election to the Texas State Senate in 2014, instead opting to run for attorney general of Texas.[4][5]

Biography

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Paxton received a B.A. and M.B.A. from Baylor University and a J.D. from the University of Virginia Law School.[4] His professional experience includes working as an attorney. Paxton worked for Strasburger and Price, L.L.P., been a management consultant with Arthur Andersen, and was in-house legal counsel for J.C. Penney Company, Inc.[4]

Paxton was a member of the Allen Chamber of Commerce, Centennial Medical Center Board, Collin County Bar Association, Dallas Estate Planning Council, Frisco Chamber of Commerce, Marketplace Ministries Board of Directors, McKinney Chamber of Commerce, McKinney Rotary, and Stonebriar Community Church.

Education

  • B.A., psychology - Baylor University (1985)
  • MBA - Baylor University (1986)
  • J.D. - University of Virginia Law School (1991)[4]

Political career

Texas Attorney General (2015-Present)

Paxton was first elected to the office of attorney general on November 4, 2014. He was sworn into office on January 5, 2015, replacing Greg Abbott (R).[6] Paxton was re-elected in 2018 and 2022. He was suspended from office in 2023 following a successful impeachment vote in the Texas House of Representatives.

Texas State Senate (2013-2015)

Paxton represented District 8 in the Texas State Senate from 2013 to 2015.[5]

2011 speaker race

Paxton and Warren Chisum of District 88 both challenged incumbent speaker Joe Straus for the leadership position of speaker of the Texas House of Representatives. Straus was elected speaker of the Texas House for a second term at the start of the 82nd legislative session on January 11, 2010, in a 132-15 vote. Both Chisum and Paxton dropped out of the race prior to the formal vote.[7]

Elections

2022

See also: Texas Attorney General election, 2022

General election

General election for Attorney General of Texas

Incumbent Ken Paxton defeated Rochelle Garza and Mark Ash in the general election for Attorney General of Texas on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Ken-Paxton.jpg
Ken Paxton (R)
 
53.4
 
4,278,986
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Rochelle_Garza1.jpg
Rochelle Garza (D) Candidate Connection
 
43.7
 
3,497,267
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Mark-Ash.jpg
Mark Ash (L)
 
2.9
 
233,750

Total votes: 8,010,003
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary runoff election

Democratic primary runoff for Attorney General of Texas

Rochelle Garza defeated Joe Jaworski in the Democratic primary runoff for Attorney General of Texas on May 24, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Rochelle_Garza1.jpg
Rochelle Garza Candidate Connection
 
62.7
 
305,168
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/JoeJaworski.jpeg
Joe Jaworski Candidate Connection
 
37.3
 
181,744

Total votes: 486,912
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary runoff election

Republican primary runoff for Attorney General of Texas

Incumbent Ken Paxton defeated George P. Bush in the Republican primary runoff for Attorney General of Texas on May 24, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Ken-Paxton.jpg
Ken Paxton
 
68.0
 
633,223
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/George_P._Bush.jpg
George P. Bush
 
32.0
 
298,577

Total votes: 931,800
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Attorney General of Texas

Rochelle Garza and Joe Jaworski advanced to a runoff. They defeated Lee Merritt, Mike Fields, and S. T-Bone Raynor in the Democratic primary for Attorney General of Texas on March 1, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Rochelle_Garza1.jpg
Rochelle Garza Candidate Connection
 
43.0
 
438,134
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/JoeJaworski.jpeg
Joe Jaworski Candidate Connection
 
19.8
 
202,140
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Lee-Merritt.PNG
Lee Merritt
 
19.4
 
198,108
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/MikeFields.jpeg
Mike Fields Candidate Connection
 
12.3
 
125,373
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
S. T-Bone Raynor
 
5.5
 
55,944

Total votes: 1,019,699
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Attorney General of Texas

Incumbent Ken Paxton and George P. Bush advanced to a runoff. They defeated Eva Guzman and Louis B. Gohmert Jr. in the Republican primary for Attorney General of Texas on March 1, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Ken-Paxton.jpg
Ken Paxton
 
42.7
 
823,199
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/George_P._Bush.jpg
George P. Bush
 
22.8
 
439,240
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Eva_GuzmanTexas.jpg
Eva Guzman Candidate Connection
 
17.5
 
337,761
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/5c60cec4-7bcb-4db1-8582-b40b7832c36b.jpg
Louis B. Gohmert Jr.
 
17.0
 
327,257

Total votes: 1,927,457
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Libertarian convention

Libertarian convention for Attorney General of Texas

Mark Ash advanced from the Libertarian convention for Attorney General of Texas on April 10, 2022.

Candidate
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Mark-Ash.jpg
Mark Ash (L)

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Campaign finance


2018

See also: Texas Attorney General election, 2018

General election

General election for Attorney General of Texas

Incumbent Ken Paxton defeated Justin Nelson and Michael Ray Harris in the general election for Attorney General of Texas on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Ken-Paxton.jpg
Ken Paxton (R)
 
50.6
 
4,193,207
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/justinnelson.jpg
Justin Nelson (D)
 
47.0
 
3,898,098
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Michael Ray Harris (L)
 
2.4
 
201,310

Total votes: 8,292,615
(100.00% precincts reporting)
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Attorney General of Texas

Justin Nelson advanced from the Democratic primary for Attorney General of Texas on March 6, 2018.

Candidate
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/justinnelson.jpg
Justin Nelson

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Attorney General of Texas

Incumbent Ken Paxton advanced from the Republican primary for Attorney General of Texas on March 6, 2018.

Candidate
Image of https://s3.amazonaws.com/ballotpedia-api4/files/thumbs/100/100/Ken-Paxton.jpg
Ken Paxton

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Libertarian convention

Libertarian convention for Attorney General of Texas

Michael Ray Harris defeated Jamar Osborne in the Libertarian convention for Attorney General of Texas on April 15, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Michael Ray Harris (L)
 
90.4
 
236
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Jamar Osborne (L)
 
9.6
 
25

Total votes: 261
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2014

See also: Texas attorney general election, 2014

Paxton ran for election as Texas attorney general. Paxton came in first for the Republican nomination in the primary on March 4, 2014, and faced Dan Branch in a runoff on May 27, which Paxton won. The general election took place on November 4, 2014.[8]

Results

Primary election
Texas Attorney General Republican Primary, 2014
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngKen Paxton 44.5% 569,034
Green check mark transparent.pngDan Branch 33.4% 428,034
Barry Smitherman 22.1% 282,701
Total Votes 1,279,769
Election results via Texas Secretary of State.
Primary runoff
Texas Attorney General Republican Runoff, 2014
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngKen Paxton 65% 489,586
Dan Branch 35% 263,194
Total Votes 752,780
Election results via Texas Secretary of State.
General election
Attorney General of Texas, 2014
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngKen Paxton 58.8% 2,742,646
     Democrat Sam Houston 38% 1,773,108
     Libertarian Jamie Balagia 2.5% 118,186
     Green Jamar Osborne 0.6% 29,590
Total Votes 4,663,530
Election results via Texas Secretary of State

Endorsements

2012

See also: Texas State Senate elections, 2012

Paxton won election in the 2012 election for Texas State Senate District 8. Paxton ran unopposed in the May 29 primary election and won election in the general election, which took place on November 6, 2012.[11]

Texas State Senate, District 8, General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngKen Paxton 62.3% 178,238
     Democratic Jack Ternan 34.6% 99,010
     Libertarian Ed Kless 3.1% 8,899
Total Votes 286,147

2010

See also: Texas House of Representatives elections, 2010

Paxton won re-election unopposed in District 70. He was unopposed in the March 2 Republican primary and faced no opposition in the November 2 general election.[11]

Texas House of Representatives, District 70
2010 General election results
Candidates Votes Percent
Green check mark transparent.png Ken Paxton (R) 43,006 100%

2008

On November 4, 2008, Paxton won re-election to the Texas House of Representatives from Texas' 70th District, defeating Robert Virasin (L). Paxton received 73,450 votes in the election while Virasin received 11,751 votes.[11] Paxton raised $320,266 in campaign contributions.[12]

Texas House of Representatives, District 70
Candidates Votes Percent
Green check mark transparent.png Ken Paxton (R) 73,450 86.20%
Robert Virasin (L) 11,751 13.79%

Campaign themes

2022

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Ken Paxton did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

Notable endorsements

See also: Ballotpedia: Our approach to covering endorsements

This section displays endorsements this individual made in elections within Ballotpedia's coverage scope.

Notable candidate endorsements by Ken Paxton
EndorseeElectionStageOutcome
Patrick Morrisey  source  (R) Governor of West Virginia (2024) PrimaryAdvanced in Primary
Donald Trump  source  (R) President of the United States (2024) PrimaryAdvanced in Convention
Barry Wernick  source  (R) Texas House of Representatives District 108 (2024) PrimaryLost Primary
Tom Glass  source  (R) Texas House of Representatives District 17 (2024) PrimaryLost Primary
A.J. Louderback  source  (R) Texas House of Representatives District 30 (2024) PrimaryAdvanced in Primary Runoff
Katrina Pierson  source  (R) Texas House of Representatives District 33 (2024) PrimaryAdvanced in Primary Runoff
Joshua Feuerstein  source  (R) Texas House of Representatives District 4 (2024) PrimaryLost Primary
Alan Schoolcraft  source  (R) Texas House of Representatives District 44 (2024) PrimaryAdvanced in Primary Runoff
Jeff Fletcher  source  (R) Texas House of Representatives District 5 (2024) PrimaryLost Primary
Hillary Hickland  source  (R) Texas House of Representatives District 55 (2024) PrimaryAdvanced in Primary
Devvie Duke  source  (R) Texas House of Representatives District 56 (2024) PrimaryLost Primary
Shelley Luther  source  (R) Texas House of Representatives District 62 (2024) PrimaryAdvanced in Primary
Liz Case  source  (R) Texas House of Representatives District 71 (2024) PrimaryLost Primary
Don McLaughlin  source  (R) Texas House of Representatives District 80 (2024) PrimaryAdvanced in Primary
Tim Greeson  source  (R) Texas House of Representatives District 85 (2024) PrimaryLost Primary
Cheryl Bean  source  (R) Texas House of Representatives District 97 (2024) PrimaryLost Primary Runoff
Kari Lake  source  (R) U.S. Senate Arizona (2024) PrimaryAdvanced in Primary
Bianca Garcia  source  (D) Travis County Court at Law No. 3 (2022) PrimaryWon General
Ted Cruz  source  (R) President of the United States (2016) PrimaryLost Convention

Campaign finance summary


Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.


Ken Paxton campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2022Attorney General of TexasWon general$18,541,870 $18,456,715
2014Texas Attorney GeneralWon $8,337,345 N/A**
2012Texas State Senate, District 8Won $783,465 N/A**
2010Texas State House, District 70Won $245,668 N/A**
2008Texas State House, District 70Won $320,266 N/A**
2006Texas State House, District 70Won $135,877 N/A**
2004Texas State House, District 70Won $249,188 N/A**
2002Texas State House, District 70Won $202,987 N/A**
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only availabale data.

Scorecards

See also: State legislative scorecards and State legislative scorecards in Texas

A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.

Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.

Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of Texas scorecards, email suggestions to [email protected].











2014

In 2014, the Texas State Legislature did not hold a regular session.


2013


2012


2011

Noteworthy events

Texas House votes to impeach Paxton, Senate votes to acquit (2023)

See also Impeachment of Ken Paxton, 2023

The Texas House of Representatives voted 121-23 to impeach Paxton on May 27, 2023.[15] The Texas Tribune's Zach Despart and James Barragán wrote that "Many of the articles of impeachment focused on allegations that Paxton had repeatedly abused his powers of office to help a political donor and friend, Austin real estate developer Nate Paul."[16]

The Texas House of Representatives General Investigating Committee unanimously recommended Paxton's impeachment on May 25, 2023, after beginning an investigation in March 2023.[17][18] The Texas Tribune reported that four investigators for the House committee said during a public forum that they believed Paxton "broke numerous state laws, misspent office funds and misused his power to benefit a friend and political donor."[19]

According to the Texas Constitution, Paxton was suspended from office during the impeachment process.[20] Following the House vote that impeached him, Paxton said, "The ugly spectacle in the Texas House today confirmed the outrageous impeachment plot against me was never meant to be fair or just. It was a politically motivated sham from the beginning. … What we witnessed today is not just about me. It is about the corrupt establishment's eagerness to overpower the millions of Texas voters who already made their voices heard when they overwhelmingly re-elected me."[21] A senior lawyer in Paxton's office, Chris Hilton, stated that what the investigators said was "false," "misleading," and "full of errors big and small."[19]

On September 16, 2023, the Texas Senate acquitted Paxton on 16 articles of impeachment, and he resumed serving as attorney general on September 18, 2023.[1][22] After the vote, Paxton issued a statement: "The sham impeachment coordinated by the Biden Administration with liberal House Speaker Dade Phelan and his kangaroo court has cost taxpayers millions of dollars, disrupted the work of the Office of Attorney General and left a dark and permanent stain on the Texas House. The weaponization of the impeachment process to settle political differences is not only wrong, it is immoral and corrupt."[23] The Senate also voted to dismiss the four other articles of impeachment that had been held in abeyance at the start of the trial.[24]

The 20 articles of impeachment were categorized as follows:

  • Disregard of official duty (7 articles)
  • False statements in official records (3)
  • Constitutional bribery (2)
  • Obstruction of justice (2)
  • Abuse of public trust
  • Conspiracy and attempted conspiracy
  • Dereliction of duty
  • Misapplication of public resources
  • Misappropriation of public resources
  • Unfitness for office[25]

Twelve articles of impeachment were related to events regarding the investigations of Paul and the members of Paxton's staff that left office during that time.[25] Click here to read more about those events. Three articles related to Paxton's 2015 indictment for securities fraud.[25] Click here to read more about those events. The remaining five articles related to Paxton's overall conduct while in office.[25] Click here for the full Texas House of Representatives resolution detailing the articles of impeachment against Paxton.

Paxton was the second statewide official, and the third overall, to be impeached in Texas history. [26] Click here for more information about impeachments in Texas.

Top aide resigns and accusations of bribery and abuse of office (2020)

On October 5, 2020, The Washington Post reported that Jeffrey Mateer, Paxton's first assistant, resigned. Mateer and six other aides submitted a letter to Human Resources Director Greg Simpson alleging that Paxton had been, "violating federal and/or state law, including prohibitions relating to improper influence, abuse of office, bribery, and other potential criminal offenses."[27] According to the Houston Chronicle, the aides accused Paxton of launching an investigation into the FBI and U.S. Department of Treasury agents who raided the home and business office of Nate Paul in 2019. Paul donated to Paxton's 2018 campaign.[28]

In a statement to the Austin American-Statesman, Paxton's office said, "The complaint filed against Attorney General Paxton was done to impede an ongoing investigation into criminal wrongdoing by public officials including employees of this office...Making false claims is a very serious matter and we plan to investigate this to the fullest extent of the law."[27]

On October 13, 2020, the Houston Chronicle reported that Mark Penley was put on leave and on November 2, 2020, The Texas Tribune reported that he was fired.[29][30] The Houston Chronicle also reported on October 22, 2020, that Paxton's office fired two top aides, Blake Brickman and Lacey Mase.[28] Penley, Brickman, and Mase were three of the seven aides to make accusations against Paxton. According to The Texas Tribune, Mase said, "It was not voluntary."[31] Ian Prior, a spokesperson for Paxton’s campaign, said, "Any suggestion that this has to do with the whistleblower claims is false and demonstrates an unfamiliarity with the facts...There are a number of reasons for these separations that we cannot discuss at this time."[32]

On October 25, 2020, Ryan Vassar was put on leave and Darren McCarty submitted his resignation, effective the first week of November 2020. Both were top aides who had made accusations against Paxton.[33]

Ryan Bangert, the seventh aide to accuse Paxton, resigned on October 28, 2020. The Marshall News Messenger reported that Bangert said, "It has been my honor and privilege to serve alongside the men and women of the Office of the Attorney General."[34]

On November 17, 2020, the Attorney General's Office fired Ryan Vassar.[35]

On February 10, 2023, Paxton and four former top aides reached a settlement in a lawsuit alleging that Paxton improperly fired them. The Texas Tribune's James Barragán wrote, "The tentative agreement would pay $3.3 million to the four whistleblowers and keep in place an appeals court ruling that allowed the case to move forward. The settlement, once finalized, also will include a statement from Paxton saying he “accepts that plaintiffs acted in a manner that they thought was right and apologizes for referring to them as ‘rogue employees.’”[36] Barragán also wrote that "The settlement...is contingent on the approval of funding", which the state of Texas pay for.[36]

Felony securities fraud indictment

Click here to read more on the securities fraud charges against Attorney General Ken Paxton.

State charges

A grand jury indicted Paxton for felony securities fraud on July 31, 2015. The charges included two counts of first-degree securities fraud in connection with the sale of more than $100,000 or more of Servergy Inc. stock to two investors, along with a lesser charge of not registering.[37] Paxton turned himself in on August 3, 2015, and was booked and released.[38] Paxton said the charges against him were politically motivated and appealed the judge's ruling.

At his first court appearance on the three securities fraud charges on August 27, 2015, Paxton formally pleaded not guilty. After Paxton entered his plea, District Judge George Gallagher granted a motion that Paxton's attorney, Joe Kendall, made to withdraw from the case.[39] On September 10, 2015, Paxton announced he had hired new legal counsel.[40] Paxton's defense team moved to have the charges dismissed on December 1, 2015. Prosecutors sought to amend the indictments. Judge Chris Oldner said he would issue written rulings on those motions.[41][42][43]

In July 2016, a state appeals court denied Paxton's motion to reconsider a previous ruling that upheld criminal charges against him.[44] In August 2016, Paxton appealed to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, the state's court of last resort for all criminal matters in the state.[45]

Following a prosecutor's motion, Judge Gallagher ordered the case moved to Harris County Court on April 12, 2017, setting a tentative trial date for September 12, 2017.[46] In turn, Paxton issued legal challenges seeking Judge Gallagher's removal from the case. The 5th Court of Appeals ruled on May 30, 2017, that in moving the case to Harris County, Judge Gallagher had also lost his authority to try the case since it was out of his jurisdiction. Although the court ordered Judge Gallagher to cancel all upcoming proceedings, including the September 12 trial, it did not directly remove him from the case.[47] As a result of the ruling, Judge Gallagher ordered the transfer of the case to Harris County on June 9, 2017.[48] On June 13, 2017, Judge Robert Johnson was randomly selected to preside over the case.[49] An initial trial on one of the three charges was scheduled for December 11, 2017, but was later delayed indefinitely.[50]

On October 4, 2017, Judge Johnson agreed to further delay the trial at the prosecutors' request, citing disruptions that Hurricane Harvey caused and the unresolved dispute over the prosecutors' pay.[51]

Paxton's trial remained delayed through 2018 and 2019. In July 2019, Paxton's attorneys requested to move the case back to Collin County from Harris County.[52] On June 25, Judge Robert Johnson granted the request, ruling that the trial would take place in Collin County.[53]

On May 27, 2021, a three-judge panel of the Texas First District Court of Appeals voted 2-1 to uphold Johnson's order, setting the stage for Paxton's trial to take place in Collin County.[54]

Federal securities charges dismissed

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed civil securities fraud charges against Paxton in April 2016 in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. [55]A U.S. district court judge dismissed these charges in March 2017.[55]

The March 2017 permanent dismissal of the charges followed from a conditional dismissal of the charges in October 2016.[56] Judge Amos Mazzant issued his conditional dismissal on Friday, October 7. Mazzant gave SEC prosecutors 14 days to amend their allegations.[57] On October 21, the SEC filed an amended complaint.[58]

The SEC alleged Paxton misled five investors in Servergy Inc. by not disclosing to them that he received compensation from sales in the form of shares of company stock. Paxton told the SEC that the shares were meant as a gift from the company's founder rather than as compensation.[59]

In his 29-page ruling conditionally dismissing the SEC's charges, federal Judge Amos Mazzant wrote, "This case is not about whether Paxton had a moral obligation to disclose his financial arrangement with Servergy to potential investors. This case is also not about whether Paxton had some general obligation to disclose his financial arrangement to his investor group. The only issue before the Court is to determine whether the facts as pleaded give rise to a plausible claim under federal securities laws."[56]

In Mazzant's final dismissal of the case in March 2017, he wrote, "This case has not changed since the Court conditionally dismissed the Commission’s Original Complaint. The primary deficiency was, and remains, that Paxton had no plausible legal duty to disclose his compensation arrangement with investors."[55]

After the federal court dismissed the SEC charges, Paxton said, "I have maintained all along this whole saga is a political witch hunt. Today’s ruling to dismiss the charges with prejudice confirms that these charges were baseless when the SEC initially brought them and they were without merit when the SEC re-filed them. Someone needs to hold the SEC accountable for this travesty."[55]

Noteworthy cases

See also


External links

Footnotes

  1. 1.0 1.1 Texas Tribune, "Paxton trial updates: Prosecutors failed to convince 21 senators on any of the accusations," accessed September 16, 2023
  2. Texas Tribune, "An emboldened Ken Paxton returns to a battered attorney general’s office," accessed September 18, 2023
  3. The Texas Tribune, "Ken Paxton was acquitted. See how each Senator voted." September 16, 2023
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Project Vote Smart, "Biography," accessed May 24, 2014
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Political offices
Preceded by
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Attorney General of Texas
2023-Present
Succeeded by
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Preceded by
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Attorney General of Texas
2015-2023
Succeeded by
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Preceded by
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Texas State Senate District 8
2013-2015
Succeeded by
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Preceded by
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Texas House of Representatives District 70
2003-2013
Succeeded by
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