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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
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
By Sunday, other news outlets also got the letter. @AP's story here: https://apnews.com/article/ken-paxton-dallas-texas-crime-03a00205c24343ef2642d3cceb00f2c2.
This added context to a Friday report from @lmcgaughy of @dallasnews that Paxton'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/
This added context to a Friday report from @lmcgaughy of @dallasnews that Paxton'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/
. @HoustonChron advanced the story with the top deputy's text to Paxton. It showed Paxton'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
By Monday, other news outlets had the text and @chiproytx, a staunch Republican and former top deputy in Paxton'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 5/ https://apnews.com/article/ken-paxton-texas-crime-8f11ec60b77871ef75c0ce9abfa1bfe3
A reminder: @KenPaxtonTX has been under felony indictment for most of his tenure. He's pleaded not guilty and the securities case is stalled.
He's also faced many other legal and ethical issues. @TexasTribune's @emmaplatoff has a good run down. 6/ https://www.texastribune.org/2020/10/03/texas-ken-paxton-bribery-investigation/
He's also faced many other legal and ethical issues. @TexasTribune's @emmaplatoff has a good run down. 6/ https://www.texastribune.org/2020/10/03/texas-ken-paxton-bribery-investigation/
. @KenPaxtonTX said he wouldn'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's allegations. They're here: https://texasattorneygeneral.gov/sites/default/files/images/admin/2020/Press/Attachments.pdf 7/
Then on Tuesday, his office released some corresponded and records with the outside lawyer he hired to probe Paul's allegations. They're here: https://texasattorneygeneral.gov/sites/default/files/images/admin/2020/Press/Attachments.pdf 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/
By Wed., we know Paul'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
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
All this time, we'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/news/20201008/paxton-sought-meeting-with-travis-county-prosecutors-over-nate-paul-allegations
3. https://www.statesman.com/news/20201009/world-class-foreclosure-sales-canceled-after-paxton-legal-opinion
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/news/20201008/paxton-sought-meeting-with-travis-county-prosecutors-over-nate-paul-allegations
3. https://www.statesman.com/news/20201009/world-class-foreclosure-sales-canceled-after-paxton-legal-opinion
On Thursday, I broke a bit of news: The "outside independent prosecutor" Paxton hired isn't those things. He's a junior Houston lawyer with no prosecutorial experience, a modest criminal defense practice and ties to Nate Paul's defense attorney. 11/ https://apnews.com/article/ken-paxton-texas-crime-8f11ec60b77871ef75c0ce9abfa1bfe3
. @byjayroot quickly added to that, reporting that Paul'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's dubious. 12/ https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/Accusations-against-AG-Ken-Paxton-fueled-by-ties-15631914.php
We haven't heard much from Paul or his lawyer, Michael Wynne, in all of this, but here's the full statement Wynne sent me Thursday. It didn't answer my questions and he hasn't respond since. 13/
That about brings us to Friday, where I started this thread. Here's @emmaplatoff and @ShannonNajma's report on the Austin DA questioning Paxton's actions and the attorney general shutting down the probe of Paul's claims.
A few more things ... 14/ https://www.texastribune.org/2020/10/09/ken-paxton-texas-attorney-general-investigation/
A few more things ... 14/ https://www.texastribune.org/2020/10/09/ken-paxton-texas-attorney-general-investigation/
