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For those looking to catch up on the maelstrom that’s engulfed a man who’s likely the most prominent Republican state attorney general, let’s review this whirlwind week. A thread ... 1/ https://twitter.com/jzbleiberg/status/1314946011400409088">https://twitter.com/jzbleiber...
Things started last Saturday evening when @tplohetski and @chucklindell got their hands on a bombshell letter: Seven senior lawyers in @KenPaxtonTX’s office wrote they reported him to law enforcement for improper influence, abuse of office, bribery. 2/ https://www.statesman.com/news/20201003/top-aides-accuse-texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton-of-bribery-abusing-office">https://www.statesman.com/news/2020...
By Sunday, other news outlets also got the letter. @AP& #39;s story here: https://apnews.com/article/ken-paxton-dallas-texas-crime-03a00205c24343ef2642d3cceb00f2c2.
This">https://apnews.com/article/k... added context to a Friday report from @lmcgaughy of @dallasnews that Paxton& #39;s top deputy stepped down. 3/ https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2020/10/02/ken-paxtons-top-assistant-attorney-general-leaves-agency-to-help-get-conservative-judges-on-the-federal-court/">https://www.dallasnews.com/news/poli...
This">https://apnews.com/article/k... added context to a Friday report from @lmcgaughy of @dallasnews that Paxton& #39;s top deputy stepped down. 3/ https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2020/10/02/ken-paxtons-top-assistant-attorney-general-leaves-agency-to-help-get-conservative-judges-on-the-federal-court/">https://www.dallasnews.com/news/poli...
. @HoustonChron advanced the story with the top deputy& #39;s text to Paxton. It showed Paxton& #39;s staff felt he was using his office to benefit a campaign donor, embattled Austin developer Nate Paul. Story from @byjayroot, @taygoldenstein and @Dexinvestigates 4/ https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/Austin-investor-Nate-Paul-at-center-of-15620657.php">https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/...
By Monday, other news outlets had the text and @chiproytx, a staunch Republican and former top deputy in Paxton& #39;s office, became the most prominent member of his party to tell the attorney general to resign. @statesman story: https://www.statesman.com/news/20201005/attorney-general-ken-paxtonrsquos-choice-of-outside-lawyer-to-investigate-nate-paul-complaint-stunned-aides">https://www.statesman.com/news/2020... 5/ https://apnews.com/article/ken-paxton-texas-crime-8f11ec60b77871ef75c0ce9abfa1bfe3">https://apnews.com/article/k...
A reminder: @KenPaxtonTX has been under felony indictment for most of his tenure. He& #39;s pleaded not guilty and the securities case is stalled.
He& #39;s also faced many other legal and ethical issues. @TexasTribune& #39;s @emmaplatoff has a good run down. 6/ https://www.texastribune.org/2020/10/03/texas-ken-paxton-bribery-investigation/">https://www.texastribune.org/2020/10/0...
He& #39;s also faced many other legal and ethical issues. @TexasTribune& #39;s @emmaplatoff has a good run down. 6/ https://www.texastribune.org/2020/10/03/texas-ken-paxton-bribery-investigation/">https://www.texastribune.org/2020/10/0...
. @KenPaxtonTX said he wouldn& #39;t be resigning Monday and blamed his staff. His statement is below.
Then on Tuesday, his office released some corresponded and records with the outside lawyer he hired to probe Paul& #39;s allegations. They& #39;re here: https://texasattorneygeneral.gov/sites/default/files/images/admin/2020/Press/Attachments.pdf">https://texasattorneygeneral.gov/sites/def... 7/
Then on Tuesday, his office released some corresponded and records with the outside lawyer he hired to probe Paul& #39;s allegations. They& #39;re here: https://texasattorneygeneral.gov/sites/default/files/images/admin/2020/Press/Attachments.pdf">https://texasattorneygeneral.gov/sites/def... 7/
Next, the Houston lawyer Paxton hired for the sensitive probe gave his only interview to date to @dallasnews. Brandon Cammack told @lmcgaughy and @MorrisReports that he was continuing his investigation among other interesting comment. 8/ https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2020/10/06/texas-ag-ken-paxton-keeps-probe-into-donors-complaint-alive-over-staffs-objections-lawyer-says/">https://www.dallasnews.com/news/poli...
By Wed., we know Paul& #39;s claims centered on alleged wrongdoing the FBI, which searched his home/office last year.
And Paxton said he got the case from local prosecutors and brought in an *independent* lawyer. This story shows both claims are flimsy. 9/ https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/Ken-Paxton-s-defenses-questioned-in-AG-office-15629810.php">https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/...
And Paxton said he got the case from local prosecutors and brought in an *independent* lawyer. This story shows both claims are flimsy. 9/ https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/Ken-Paxton-s-defenses-questioned-in-AG-office-15629810.php">https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/...
All this time, we& #39;ve also been learning more about Nate Paul, his bankruptcy cases and ways Paxton has gotten involved. Three revealing stories from @statesman:
1. https://www.statesman.com/business/20201007/foundationrsquos-lawyer-suspected-lsquosomething-fishyrsquo-when-texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton-intervened-in-case
2.https://www.statesman.com/business/... href=" https://www.statesman.com/news/20201008/paxton-sought-meeting-with-travis-county-prosecutors-over-nate-paul-allegations
3.https://www.statesman.com/news/2020... href=" https://www.statesman.com/news/20201009/world-class-foreclosure-sales-canceled-after-paxton-legal-opinion">https://www.statesman.com/news/2020...
1. https://www.statesman.com/business/20201007/foundationrsquos-lawyer-suspected-lsquosomething-fishyrsquo-when-texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton-intervened-in-case
2.
3.
On Thursday, I broke a bit of news: The "outside independent prosecutor" Paxton hired isn& #39;t those things. He& #39;s a junior Houston lawyer with no prosecutorial experience, a modest criminal defense practice and ties to Nate Paul& #39;s defense attorney. 11/ https://apnews.com/article/ken-paxton-texas-crime-8f11ec60b77871ef75c0ce9abfa1bfe3">https://apnews.com/article/k...
. @byjayroot quickly added to that, reporting that Paul& #39;s lawyer was actually with the attorney Paxton hired when he served at least one subpoena, according to the person who received it. Other lawyers say that& #39;s dubious. 12/ https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/Accusations-against-AG-Ken-Paxton-fueled-by-ties-15631914.php">https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/...
We haven& #39;t heard much from Paul or his lawyer, Michael Wynne, in all of this, but here& #39;s the full statement Wynne sent me Thursday. It didn& #39;t answer my questions and he hasn& #39;t respond since. 13/
That about brings us to Friday, where I started this thread. Here& #39;s @emmaplatoff and @ShannonNajma& #39;s report on the Austin DA questioning Paxton& #39;s actions and the attorney general shutting down the probe of Paul& #39;s claims.
A few more things ... 14/ https://www.texastribune.org/2020/10/09/ken-paxton-texas-attorney-general-investigation/">https://www.texastribune.org/2020/10/0...
A few more things ... 14/ https://www.texastribune.org/2020/10/09/ken-paxton-texas-attorney-general-investigation/">https://www.texastribune.org/2020/10/0...
