Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton pursued perks past impeachment allegations, ex-staffers say

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Unexplained Caribbean and European journeys that value taxpayers greater than $90,000. A $600 sports coat paid for by an occasion organizer. A $45 workplace Christmas cake taken as his personal.

These are among the many perks that Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s former workers say he reveled in whereas utilizing his workplace in ways in which now have him dealing with a federal felony investigation and potential ouster over allegations of corruption.

Paxton’s impeachment trial that begins Tuesday covers years of extremely publicized scandal, felony prices and whistleblower accounts from his internal circle.

But data obtained by The Associated Press, interviews with former aides and a assessment of hundreds of authorized filings reveal different methods during which Paxton allegedly reaped the advantages of being one in all Texas’ strongest figures. Together, they present how conviction and elimination from workplace might value Paxton not only a job however a life-style.

Last 12 months, that life-style included extra worldwide journeys than Texas’ governor and lieutenant governor mixed, and a beforehand unreported go to to Qatar to look at the World Cup. There are additionally accusations of conduct that raised eyebrows amongst workers in any respect ranges of Paxton’ workplace, together with requesting particular license plates however by no means paying the $12.50 to accumulate them.

“He always cared about what trip he was going on, who was taking him to dinner,” James Blake Brickman, one in all Paxton’s former deputies, informed investigators main the impeachment in March, in line with a transcript.

“He likes the perks of the office,” Brickman stated.

Spokespersons for Paxton and the lawyer normal’s workplace didn’t reply to questions in regards to the accusations made by Paxton’s former workers. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who will act as decide in the course of the impeachment trial, issued a sweeping gag order.

First elected in 2014, Paxton has constructed a nationwide profile, utilizing his workplace to attempt to overturn the 2020 presidential election, problem Biden administration insurance policies, and to combat for conservative social causes. He received reelection twice regardless of the clouds of a securities fraud indictment and an ongoing FBI investigation.

The federal investigation and impeachment give attention to allegations by eight of Paxton’s former high deputies that he helped a rich donor fend off an FBI investigation. In return, Austin actual property developer Nate Paul allegedly employed a lady with whom Paxton had an extramarital affair and bankrolled the renovations of his million-dollar Austin residence. Both males have denied wrongdoing.

Beyond pleasant audiences and conservative-leaning tv information networks, Paxton seldom makes public appearances. Bill Miller, a veteran Austin lobbyist, stated the accusations which have engulfed Paxton for years “color the perception of him” however don’t resemble the person he’s lengthy referred to as a pal.

“He’s a genuinely nice guy and a cool customer,” Miller stated. “He’s really good at making you like him.”

As lawyer normal, Paxton is paid round $153,000 yearly, a wage decrease than a lot of his high aides. His spouse, state Sen. Angela Paxton, has labored as an educator and receives $7,200 for serving within the Texas Legislature, which meets for six months each two years.

The full extent of the couple’s wealth is unknown. Their required monetary disclosures provide a blurry image. For occasion, the latest filings worth their blind belief at “$47,220 or more.”

Last 12 months, Paxton’s travels had been in depth. Records present that after profitable a Republican main runoff towards George P. Bush – who forged Paxton as unfit for workplace – Paxton spent two months flying to cities within the Caribbean and Europe. It’s unclear who paid for Paxton’s journey, however the journeys value taxpayers a mixed $91,000 for his safety element.

The objective of the journey, which was first reported by The Dallas Morning News, can also be unclear. Spokespersons for Paxton and the lawyer normal’s workplace didn’t reply to questions in regards to the journeys, which Paxton didn’t publicize.

A couple of months later, Paxton was in Qatar for the 2022 World Cup – a visit that doesn’t seem in his filings or safety data. Another Republican state lawyer normal, Sean Reyes of Utah, additionally attended and disclosed by way of a spokesman that Qatar’s authorities paid his bills with out saying how a lot they had been.

In an announcement, Qatar’s Embassy in Washington stated it invited 4 state attorneys generals as a part of “wider efforts in combatting transnational crime, including human trafficking.” Jeff Norwood, a Paxton spokesman, stated Paxton paid his personal approach to the event and attended with out state police safety.

Former workers say Paxton generally seized smaller alternatives to achieve from workplace.

David Maxell, the lawyer normal’s former head of legislation enforcement and one in all eight deputies who reported him to the FBI, informed investigators that Paxton as soon as purchased a $600 sports coat from a lodge retailer whereas at a convention and billed it to the occasion’s organizer. According to transcripts, Maxell additionally stated Paxton requested for specialty license plates accessible to state officers however by no means paid the nominal charge to select them up.

”He was all about cash,” stated Maxell, who can also be a former Texas Ranger, the state’s elite legislation enforcement division. “He always had his hand out.”

Other former workers level to an excellent smaller present.

Around Christmas for years, Texas grocery big H-E-B despatched a coconut-dusted cake to the lawyer normal’s workplace, which workers shared.

That modified after Paxton was elected, in line with three former workers of his govt workplace who spoke on situation of anonymity out of concern of retaliation.

One stated Paxton as soon as informed workers to not contact the cake as a result of it was for his birthday, which is on Dec. 23. Another stated Paxton as soon as had the cake dropped at a Tex-Mex restaurant for a workers lunch however by no means served it. The third recalled watching Paxton and an aide stroll out of the workplace carrying the cake field.

According to required present logs stored by Paxton’s workplace, the cake was value $45.

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