Texas AG Paxton disputes bribery, abuse-of-office allegations leveled by aides
Seven high-level aides accused the Texas AG of 'violating federal and/or state law'
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton defended himself Saturday evening after a group of high-level aides reported alleged criminal misconduct to federal law enforcement, according to local reports.
"We have a good faith belief that the Attorney General is violating federal and/or state law, including prohibitions relating to improper influence, abuse of office, bribery and other potential criminal offenses," said a letter signed by seven high-ranking assistant attorney generals. It was dated Oct. 1 but obtained and published Saturday by Austin's KVUE-TV and the Austin American-Statesman.
The signees were Jeffrey Mateer, Ryan Bangert, James Brickman, Lacey Mase, Darren McCarty, Mark Penley and Ryan Vassar.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}“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,” a Paxton spokesman said.
According to the letter, the aides notified Paxton via text message that they had reported the alleged “violations” to law enforcement Thursday.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Paxton is already facing felony securities fraud charges for allegedly influencing investors on behalf of a tech startup without disclosing that he was on the company’s payroll. He has pleaded not guilty in that case.
A civil case against him was dismissed in 2017.
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The accusations come a week after Paxton’s office announced more than 100 voter fraud charges in connection with a 2018 Democratic primary in Gregg County and about a month after he sued another county, warning it to stop sending unsolicited mail-in ballot applications to voters.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.