Ken Paxton

Paxton was born on Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota, where his father was stationed while in the United States Air Force. His parents and their three children lived in a trailer, often without air conditioning, parked outside wherever his father was temporarily stationed. At various times, they lived in Florida, New York, North Carolina, California, and Oklahoma. A lifelong football fan, Paxton carried a jersey autographed by Bill Bates, formerly of the Dallas Cowboys. Bates later was named Paxton's campaign treasurer.Andrea Zelinski, "Paxton's career, life marked by beating barriers", San Antonio Express-News, December 24, 2016, pp. 1, A8. Retrieved December 27, 2016.

At the age of twelve, Paxton nearly lost an eye in a game of hide-and-seek; a misdiagnosis led to long-term problems with his vision. As a result, his good eye is green; his damaged one, brown and droopy. He further injured his eye while in college.

Paxton received a bachelor's degree in psychology in 1985 and a Master of Business Administration in 1986, both from Baylor University.{{cite news |last1=Bryant |first1=Tara |title=Behind Ken Paxton's rise to attorney general |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/2015/08/01/behind-ken-paxton-s-rise-to-attorney-general/ |access-date=May 28, 2023 |work=The Dallas Morning News |date=August 1, 2015 |archive-date=May 28, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230528015007/https://www.dallasnews.com/news/2015/08/01/behind-ken-paxton-s-rise-to-attorney-general/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230528014737/https://business.baylor.edu//hsb/bbr/fa13/pdfs/alumni-news.pdf |archive-date=May 28, 2023 |title=Alumni News |url=https://business.baylor.edu//hsb/bbr/fa13/pdfs/alumni-news.pdf |access-date=May 28, 2023 |publisher=Baylor University, Hankamer School of Business}} At that university, he was elected president of the student government.{{cite news|last1=McGaughy|first1=Lauren|title=Ken Paxton waging shadow campaign for attorney general seat|url=http://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/Ken-Paxton-waging-shadow-campaign-for-attorney-5816904.php|access-date=July 9, 2016|newspaper=San Antonio Express-News|date=October 11, 2014|archive-date=August 15, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160815212407/http://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/Ken-Paxton-waging-shadow-campaign-for-attorney-5816904.php|url-status=live}} Paxton then worked for two years as a management consultant before returning to school in 1988. In 1991, he received a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Virginia School of Law.{{Cite web|url=https://www.texasbar.com/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Find_A_Lawyer&template=/Customsource/MemberDirectory/MemberDirectoryDetail.cfm&ContactID=182172|title=State Bar of Texas | Find a Lawyer | Warren Kenneth Paxton|access-date=May 5, 2016|archive-date=October 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201004203303/https://www.texasbar.com/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Find_A_Lawyer&template=%2FCustomsource%2FMemberDirectory%2FMemberDirectoryDetail.cfm&ContactID=182172|url-status=live}}

Paxton worked at Strasburger & Price, L.L.P. from 1991 to 1995, and J.C. Penney Company, Inc. from 1995 to 2002.[https://www.txdirectory.com/online/person/?id=17246&office=17279 "The Honorable Ken Paxton"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211224160811/https://www.txdirectory.com/online/person/?id=17246&office=17279 |date=December 24, 2021 }}, Texas State Directory Press, November 7, 2018. Retrieved December 24, 2021.

In 2002, Paxton ran in the Republican primary for the Texas House in District 70. He captured 39.45% of the vote and moved into a runoff with Bill Vitz, whom he then defeated with 64% of the vote. He went on to face Fred Lusk (D) and Robert Worthington (L) for the newly redistricted open seat. On November 4, 2002, Paxton won with 28,012 votes to Lusk's 7,074 votes and Worthington's 600 votes.{{cite web|url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe |title=Texas House official election results for 2002 and Republican Primary Election 2002 |publisher=Office of the Secretary of State |access-date=November 20, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109062336/http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe |archive-date=January 9, 2014}}

Paxton won re-election against Democrat Martin Woodward in 2004. Paxton captured 76% of the vote, or 58,520 votes compared to 18,451 votes for Woodward.{{cite web|url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe |title=Texas House official election results for 2004 |publisher=Office of the Secretary of State |access-date=November 20, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109062336/http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe |archive-date=January 9, 2014}} Paxton won re-election in 2006, defeating Rick Koster (D) and Robert Virasin (L). Paxton received 30,062 votes to Koster's 12,265 votes and Virasin's 1,222 votes.{{cite web|url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe |title=Texas House official election results for 2006 |publisher=Office of the Secretary of State |access-date=November 20, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109062336/http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe |archive-date=January 9, 2014}} Paxton won re-election by again defeating Robert Virasin (L), 73,450 to 11,751 votes.{{cite web|url=http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe |title=Texas House official election results for 2008 |publisher=Office of the Secretary of State |access-date=November 20, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109062336/http://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist.exe |archive-date=January 9, 2014}} Paxton ran unopposed for re-election in 2010.

After getting re-elected, Paxton ran for Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives against fellow Republicans Joe Straus of District 121 in Bexar County and Warren Chisum of District 88 in Pampa, Texas. Paxton said that if elected speaker, he would take "bold action in defense of our conservative values".{{cite news |url=http://www.elliscountypress.com/news/10490-rep-ken-paxton-announces-bid-for-texas-house-speaker.html |title=Rep. Ken Paxton announces bid for Texas House Speaker |newspaper=The Ellis County Press |access-date=November 20, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710183559/http://www.elliscountypress.com/news/10490-rep-ken-paxton-announces-bid-for-texas-house-speaker.html |archive-date=July 10, 2011 |url-status=dead}} Sensing certain defeat, Paxton pulled out of the Speaker's race before the vote. Paxton was endorsed by HuckPAC, the official political action committee of Mike Huckabee,{{cite web|url=http://www.huckpac.com/?Fuseaction=Candidates.View&State_id=97|title=Huck Pac – Candidates|publisher=HuckPAC|access-date=November 20, 2010|archive-date=July 8, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100708010646/http://www.huckpac.com/?Fuseaction=Candidates.View&State_id=97|url-status=live}} and was endorsed by the NRA Political Victory Fund.{{cite web|url=http://www.nrapvf.org/grades-endorsements/2010/texas.aspx|title=Endorsements |publisher=National Rifle Association – Political Victory Fund, Texas|access-date=November 20, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101126151634/http://nrapvf.org/grades-endorsements/2010/texas.aspx|archive-date=November 26, 2010|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=Voters Guide|url=http://tsrapac.com/images/stories/general/voters%20guide%20final%201.pdf|access-date=November 20, 2010|publisher=TSRA PAC}}{{Dead link|date=February 2020|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}} Straus was elected to his second term as Speaker and was re-elected in 2013, 2015, and 2017.

After winning the 2012 election, Paxton replaced the retiring Florence Shapiro in the Texas Senate.{{cite news |last1=Fikac |first1=Peggy |title=Texas education on brink of a shake-up |url=https://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/article/Texas-education-on-brink-of-a-shake-up-3918936.php |access-date=16 June 2023 |work=Beaumont Enterprise |date=2012-10-04}} He served from 2013 until January 2015, when his term as Attorney General began.{{cite web|title=Office of the Secretary of State Race Summary Report 2014 General Election, subsection Attorney General|url=https://elections.sos.state.tx.us/elchist175_state.htm|access-date=5 April 2025 |work=Texas Secretary of State|date=2014-11-04}}

{{main|2014 Texas Attorney General election}}

File:Sen. Ken Paxton announces run for Attorney General (9421010715).jpg

Paxton became a candidate for Texas attorney general when the incumbent Greg Abbott decided to run for governor to succeed the retiring Rick Perry.{{cite web|url=https://team1.sos.state.tx.us/enr/results/mar04_169_state.htm?x=0&y=3948&id=969 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140307051116/https://team1.sos.state.tx.us/enr/results/mar04_169_state.htm?x=0&y=3948&id=969 |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 7, 2014 |title=Republican primary election returns, March 4, 2014 |publisher=Office of the Secretary of State |access-date=March 6, 2014}} Paxton led a three-candidate field in the Republican primary held on March 4, 2014, polling 566,114 votes (44.4%). State Representative Dan Branch of Dallas County received 426,595 votes (33.5 percent). Eliminated in the primary was Texas Railroad Commissioner Barry Smitherman of Austin, who polled the remaining 281,064 (22.1 percent). Paxton faced Dan Branch in the runoff election on May 27, 2014, and won with 465,395 votes (63.63 percent). Branch received 265,963 votes (36.36 percent).{{cite news |url=http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/files/elections/2014/by_state/TX_Page_0527.html |title=Texas – Summary Vote Results |date=May 28, 2014 |access-date=March 3, 2015 |publisher=Associated Press |archive-date=May 29, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140529190706/http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/files/elections/2014/by_state/TX_Page_0527.html |url-status=live}}Grissom, Brandi. [http://www.texastribune.org/2014/05/28/tea-party-conservatives-win-top-gop-runoff-contest/ "Tea Party Conservatives Win Top GOP Runoff Contests"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150318063240/https://www.texastribune.org/2014/05/28/tea-party-conservatives-win-top-gop-runoff-contest/ |date=March 18, 2015}}, Texas Tribune, May 28, 2014. Retrieved March 3, 2015.{{cite news |last=Weber |first=Paul J. |url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/36bcfbd947a14ce99225996a83e3d2ab/indicted-texas-attorney-general-rode-tea-party-power |title=Indicted Texas attorney general rode tea party to power |publisher=Associated Press |date=August 4, 2015 |access-date=November 4, 2015 |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304194539/http://bigstory.ap.org/article/36bcfbd947a14ce99225996a83e3d2ab/indicted-texas-attorney-general-rode-tea-party-power |url-status=live}}

In the November 4, 2014, general election, Paxton defeated his Democratic opponent, an attorney from Houston named Sam Houston.Philip Balli, "Two vie for state AG post", Laredo Morning Times, October 16, 2014, p. 3A

Paxton took office on January 5, 2015.{{cite news |last=Blanchard |first=Bobby |date=January 5, 2015 |title=Top Texas Officials on Hand as Paxton is Sworn In |url=http://www.texastribune.org/2015/01/05/texas-political-elite-attends-paxtons-swearing/ |newspaper=Texas Tribune |location=Austin, Texas |access-date=January 6, 2015 |archive-date=January 6, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150106132132/http://www.texastribune.org/2015/01/05/texas-political-elite-attends-paxtons-swearing/ |url-status=live}} Paxton's campaign raised $945,000 in the first half of 2016, leaving Paxton with just under $3 million in his campaign account for a potential 2018 re-election bid.{{cite news|last1=Lindell|first1=Chuck|title=Ken Paxton campaign takes in almost $945,000|url=http://www.mystatesman.com/news/news/ken-paxton-campaign-takes-in-almost-945000/nrynh/|access-date=July 25, 2016|newspaper=Austin-American Statesman|date=July 15, 2016|archive-date=October 2, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161002124642/http://www.mystatesman.com/news/news/ken-paxton-campaign-takes-in-almost-945000/nrynh/|url-status=live}}

Paxton won the attorney general's election without the endorsement of a single Texas newspaper.

{{main|2018 Texas Attorney General election}}

In 2018, Paxton ran unopposed for re-election in the Republican primary. Having received the endorsement of U.S. President Donald Trump, Paxton won a second term as attorney general in the general election on November 6, 2018, narrowly defeating Democratic nominee Justin Nelson, a lawyer, and Libertarian Party nominee Michael Ray Harris by a margin of 4,173,538 (50.6 percent) to 3,874,096 (47 percent) and Harris receiving 2.4%.Election Returns. Texas Secretary of State (November 6, 2018). Retrieved on November 10, 2018.{{cite web |title=Texas Attorney General election, 2018 |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Texas_Attorney_General_election,_2018 |website=Ballotpedia |access-date=January 10, 2019 |archive-date=November 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181107123029/https://ballotpedia.org/Texas_attorney_general_election,_2018 |url-status=live}} Justin Nelson's campaign ad for attorney general included surveillance video from the Collin County courthouse in 2012, showing Paxton taking a Montblanc pen worth $1,000, which had been accidentally left behind at a metal detector by fellow lawyer Joe Joplin. The pen was later returned "when the error was realized", said a spokesman for Paxton.{{Cite AV media |title=Ken Paxton: Pen Thief |publisher=Justin Nelson |via=YouTube |language=en |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKX1Y5NwZZM |access-date=2021-03-10 |archive-date=May 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210524175325/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKX1Y5NwZZM |url-status=live }}{{Cite news|last1=Justin|first1=Raga|title=Allegations against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, through the years|url=https://www.expressnews.com/projects/2020/timeline-ken-paxton-allegations/|access-date=2021-03-10|website=Express News|language=en-US|archive-date=November 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126142118/https://www.expressnews.com/projects/2020/timeline-ken-paxton-allegations/|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|date=2014-11-18|title=Incoming AG Ken Paxton returns another lawyer's $1,000 pen he picked up at courthouse metal detector|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2014/11/18/incoming-ag-ken-paxton-returns-another-lawyer-s-1000-pen-he-picked-up-at-courthouse-metal-detector/|access-date=2021-03-10|website=The Dallas Morning News|language=en|archive-date=March 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210326145501/https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2014/11/18/incoming-ag-ken-paxton-returns-another-lawyer-s-1000-pen-he-picked-up-at-courthouse-metal-detector/|url-status=live}}

File:Ken-Paxton--TheWoodlandsTX--01072025.jpg

{{main|2022 Texas Attorney General election}}

The 2022 Texas Attorney General election took place on November 8, 2022, where Paxton won the Attorney General of Texas office for the third time. Paxton advanced to the November 8 general election after winning primary contests on March 1 and May 24.

{{main|2026 United States Senate election in Texas}}

On April 8, 2025, Paxton went on the Ingraham Angle show to announce his candidacy for the U.S. Senate, challenging incumbent Senator John Cornyn.

Paxton supports bans on access to abortion.{{Cite web |last=Tuma |first=Mary |date=2022-06-28 |title=Ken Paxton Wants to Ban Abortions Before Texas's Trigger Law Kicks In. A Judge Has Said No, for Now. |url=https://www.texasmonthly.com/news-politics/texas-judge-denies-immediate-abortion-ban/ |access-date=2023-08-17 |website=Texas Monthly |language=en}} He gave his employees a paid vacation day to celebrate the overturning of Roe v. Wade.{{Cite web |title=AG Paxton Celebrates End of Roe v. Wade; Announces Abortion Now Illegal in Texas |url=https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/news/releases/ag-paxton-celebrates-end-roe-v-wade-announces-abortion-now-illegal-texas |access-date=2023-08-17 |website=Texas Attorney General |language=en}}

Paxton has sought to block rules from the US Health and Human Services Department that would require hospitals to provide abortions to women when the procedure is necessary to save their lives.{{Cite web |date=2022-07-14 |title=Texas sues health secretary over emergency abortion guidance |url=https://apnews.com/article/abortion-health-lawsuits-xavier-becerra-ken-paxton-79b4db553df2d9f757e105eb7a64ada4 |access-date=2023-08-17 |website=AP News |language=en}}

After Texas judge Maya Guerra Gamble ruled that Kate Cox, a pregnant woman whose fetus had the trisomy 18 condition, qualified for an abortion under the medical exemption provision in Texas law, Paxton in December 2023 called the judge an "activist" that was "not medically qualified" to make this ruling, threatened to prosecute doctors if they performed an abortion on Cox, and stated that Texas hospitals that allowed Cox's abortion could "be liable for negligent credentialing" the abortion-performing doctor.{{cite news |last1=Pierson |first1=Brendan |title=Texas AG threatens to prosecute doctors in emergency abortion |url=https://www.reuters.com/legal/texas-judge-allows-woman-get-emergency-abortion-despite-state-ban-2023-12-07/ |access-date=December 8, 2023 |work=Reuters |date=December 8, 2023}}{{cite news |title=Showdown In Texas After Judge Says 'Yes' To Abortion Under Strict Law |url=https://www.barrons.com/amp/news/texas-judge-allows-woman-with-risky-pregnancy-to-have-abortion-ba1247a3 |access-date=December 8, 2023 |work=Agence France Presse |date=December 7, 2023}}{{cite news |last1=Sasani |first1=Ava |title=Texas attorney general says he will sue doctor who gives abortion to Kate Cox |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/dec/08/ken-paxton-texas-abortion-kate-cox |access-date=December 9, 2023 |work=The Guardian |date=December 8, 2023}} Paxton appealed Gamble's ruling to the Texas Supreme Court, arguing that "how long the child is expected to live" was irrelevant to the case, and that Cox had not proven that the pregnancy threatened her life.{{cite news |last1=Fink |first1=Jack |title=Texas Supreme Court temporarily halts ruling allowing Dallas woman to have abortion |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/attorney-general-ken-paxton-asks-texas-supreme |access-date=December 9, 2023 |work=CBS News |date=December 8, 2023}}{{cite news |last1=Weber |first1=Paul |last2=Stengle |first2=Jamie |title=Texas woman who sought court permission for abortion leaves state for the procedure, attorneys say |url=https://apnews.com/article/abortion-texas-ban-7d865cdfd75bdc6b2f4186f4d1e6e8bd |date=December 12, 2023 |access-date=December 12, 2023 |work=Associated Press}} The Supreme Court paused Gamble's ruling, leading to Cox leaving Texas to obtain an abortion; later the Texas Supreme Court ruled against Cox, stating that even though her pregnancy was "extremely complicated", even "serious" pregnancy difficulties do not meet Texas' medical exemption provision.

In 2022, Paxton was sued by Fund Texas Choice, a non-profit organization aiming to prevent Paxton from prosecuting people who assist Texans to receive out-of-state abortions. In September 2022, a process server alleged in an affidavit for the court that when he attempted to serve a subpoena to Paxton at his home, he saw Paxton coming to the door but turning back; Paxton's wife answered the door saying Paxton was on the phone, with the process server stating that he had important legal documents for Paxton; Paxton left the house an hour later but ran back into the house when the process server called his name; minutes later Paxton ran out of the house and left in a truck driven by his wife, ignoring the process server stating his intentions.{{cite news |last1=Bleiberg |first1=Jake |title=Records: Texas attorney general fled home to avoid subpoena |url=https://apnews.com/article/texas-dallas-subpoenas-ken-paxton-3fa293d712fda938142c86aaf5be83c1 |access-date=September 30, 2022 |publisher=Associated Press |date=September 28, 2022 |archive-date=September 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220930095553/https://apnews.com/article/texas-dallas-subpoenas-ken-paxton-3fa293d712fda938142c86aaf5be83c1 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Klibanoff |first1=Eleanor |title=Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton fled his home to avoid being served with subpoena, court record says |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2022/09/26/texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton-subpoena-abortion-lawsuit/ |access-date=September 30, 2022 |work=The Texas Tribune |date=September 27, 2022 |archive-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220929232428/https://www.texastribune.org/2022/09/26/texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton-subpoena-abortion-lawsuit/ |url-status=live }} Paxton responded claiming that the process server "yelled unintelligibly, and charged toward me. I perceived this person to be a threat", while further stating that the process server "is lucky this situation did not escalate further or necessitate force".{{cite news |last1=Breuninger |first1=Kevin |title=Texas AG Ken Paxton fled home with his wife to avoid subpoena in abortion case, court filing says |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/09/27/texas-ag-paxton-fled-home-with-his-wife-to-avoid-subpoena-in-abortion-case.html |access-date=September 30, 2022 |publisher=CNBC |date=September 27, 2022 |archive-date=September 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220929193529/https://www.cnbc.com/2022/09/27/texas-ag-paxton-fled-home-with-his-wife-to-avoid-subpoena-in-abortion-case.html |url-status=live }}

Paxton initiated a lawsuit seeking to have the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) ruled unconstitutional in its entirety.{{Cite news|date=2018|title=Federal judge in Texas rules Obama health-care law unconstitutional|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/federal-judge-in-texas-rules-obama-health-care-law-unconstitutional/2018/12/14/9e8bb5a2-fd63-11e8-862a-b6a6f3ce8199_story.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215021631/https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/federal-judge-in-texas-rules-obama-health-care-law-unconstitutional/2018/12/14/9e8bb5a2-fd63-11e8-862a-b6a6f3ce8199_story.html|archive-date=December 15, 2018}}

On October 6, 2016, Paxton and then California Attorney General Kamala Harris announced that Texas authorities had raided the Dallas headquarters of Backpage.com and arrested CEO Carl Ferrer at the George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston on felony charges of pimping, pimping a minor, and conspiracy to commit pimping. In a press release, Harris denounced Backpage as "the world's largest online brothel".{{Cite web|date=2016-10-06|title=Attorney General Kamala D. Harris Announces Criminal Charges Against Senior Corporate Officers of Backpage.com for Profiting from Prostitution and Arrest of Carl Ferrer, CEO|url=https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-kamala-d-harris-announces-criminal-charges-against-senior|access-date=2021-07-02|website=State of California – Department of Justice – Office of the Attorney General|language=en}}

The California arrest warrant alleged that 99% of Backpage's revenue was directly attributable to prostitution-related ads and that many of the ads involved victims of sex trafficking, including children under the age of 18. The State of Texas was also considering a money laundering charge pending its investigation.{{Cite news|title=Backpage CEO to appear in Houston court on prostitution bust|newspaper=Houston Chronicle|url=http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Authorities-arrest-Backpage-CEO-in-human-9884677.php|access-date=November 21, 2016}}{{Cite news|date=October 6, 2016|title=Attorney General Kamala D. Harris Announces Criminal Charges Against Senior Corporate Officers of Backpage.com for Profiting from Prostitution and Arrest of Carl Ferrer, CEO|newspaper=State of California – Department of Justice – Kamala D. Harris Attorney General|url=https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-kamala-d-harris-announces-criminal-charges-against-senior|access-date=November 21, 2016}} Arrest warrants were issued against former Backpage owners and founders Michael Lacey and James Larkin. Lacey and Larkin were charged with conspiracy to commit pimping.{{Cite news|last=Mele|first=Christopher|date=October 6, 2016|title=C.E.O. of Backpage.com, Known for Escort Ads, Is Charged with Pimping a Minor|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/07/us/carl-ferrer-backpage-ceo-is-arrested.html|access-date=November 21, 2016|issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite news|title=Backpage.com raided, CEO arrested for sex-trafficking|language=en-US|newspaper=The Big Story|url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/2d89a01c2ff14106beeb7570747c46af/backpagecom-raided-ceo-arrested-texas|access-date=November 21, 2016}}

In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Paxton threatened to file lawsuits against local governments unless they rescinded stay-at-home orders and rescinded rules regarding the use of face masks to combat the spread of coronavirus.{{Cite news|last=Platoff|first=Emma|date=May 12, 2020|title=Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton warns Austin, San Antonio, Dallas to loosen coronavirus restrictions|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2020/05/12/texas-attorney-general-warn-cities-coronavirus/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200513184723/https://www.texastribune.org/2020/05/12/texas-attorney-general-warn-cities-coronavirus/|archive-date=May 13, 2020|access-date=May 13, 2020|website=The Texas Tribune|language=en}} The city of Austin encouraged restaurants to keep logs of contact information, so as to ensure contact tracing in the event of an outbreak; Paxton described this as "Orwellian".{{Cite news|title=Texas AG Ken Paxton calls local coronavirus orders 'unlawful,' 'Orwellian'|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/texas-ag-ken-paxton-calls-local-coronavirus-orders-unlawful-orwellian-n1205831|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200513032547/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/texas-ag-ken-paxton-calls-local-coronavirus-orders-unlawful-orwellian-n1205831|archive-date=May 13, 2020|access-date=May 13, 2020|publisher=NBC News|language=en}} Paxton sued the city of Austin again in December 2020 when the city implemented restrictions preventing indoor dining and drinking on New Years weekend amid surging COVID-19 cases.{{Cite news|last=Garnham|first=Juan Pablo|date=2020-12-30|title=Ken Paxton sues after Austin bans late on-site dining for New Year's weekend amid COVID-19 surge|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2020/12/30/texas-greg-abbott-austin-new-years/|access-date=2021-01-01|website=The Texas Tribune|language=en|archive-date=January 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210101135155/https://www.texastribune.org/2020/12/30/texas-greg-abbott-austin-new-years/|url-status=live}} In March 2021, Paxton filed a lawsuit against Austin as well as Travis County, this time for the city and county continuing their local mask wearing requirements after Governor Abbott had signed an order ending the statewide mask-wearing mandate.{{Cite news|last1=Maxouris|first1=Christina|last2=Hanna|first2=Jason|last3=Vera|first3=Amir|date=11 March 2021|title=Texas attorney general files lawsuit against Austin leaders over mask requirement|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/11/us/texas-mask-mandate-attorney-general-austin-travis-county/index.html|access-date=12 March 2021|publisher=CNN|archive-date=March 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210312105946/https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/11/us/texas-mask-mandate-attorney-general-austin-travis-county/index.html|url-status=live}}

Paxton defended Texas in a federal lawsuit involving allegations that Texas's congressional districts were gerrymandered. In 2017, a three-judge panel of a U.S. federal court based in San Antonio ruled that the Republican-controlled Texas Legislature drew congressional-district to discriminate against minority voters, and ordered the redrawing of Texas's 35th and 27th congressional districts. Paxton appealed the ruling, contending that the previous maps were lawful, and vowed to "aggressively defend the maps on all fronts"; U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett criticized the appeal as a "desperate, highly questionable Paxton-Abbott maneuver" coming "after yet another ruling against the state of Texas for intentional discrimination".{{cite news|last1=Lindell|first1=Chuck|date=2017-08-19|title=Texas appeals ruling requiring new congressional districts|work=Austin American-Statesman|url=https://www.statesman.com/NEWS/20170819/Texas-appeals-ruling-requiring-new-congressional-districts|url-status=live|access-date=2020-12-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170824181137/http://www.mystatesman.com/news/texas-appeals-ruling-requiring-new-congressional-districts/lnya7PUWIEumwuA9xnUeiJ/|archive-date=2017-08-24}}{{Cite news|last=Malewitz|first=Jim|date=2017-08-18|title=With Supreme Court appeal, Texas wants to keep congressional map intact|language=en|work=The Texas Tribune|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2017/08/18/paxton-redistricting-filing/|access-date=2020-12-11|archive-date=November 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118055801/https://www.texastribune.org/2017/08/18/paxton-redistricting-filing/|url-status=live}} Texas won on appeal when in a 5–4 decision the Supreme Court ruled there was insufficient evidence to prove that state Republicans acted in bad faith and engaged in intentional discrimination with respect to the 27th and 35th congressional districts.{{Cite news |last=Wheeler |first=Lydia |date=2018-06-25 |title=Supreme Court rules for Texas in redistricting case |url=https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/393940-supreme-court-rules-for-texas-in-redistricting-case/ |work=The Hill |access-date=2022-05-22 |archive-date=July 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705194836/https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/393940-supreme-court-rules-for-texas-in-redistricting-case/ |url-status=live }}

Paxton created a human trafficking unit in the AG office in 2015. In 2019, he convinced Texas lawmakers to more than quadruple the human trafficking unit's annual funding. In 2020 the unit did not secure a single human trafficking conviction and only four in 2021, two of which resulted in deferred adjudications.{{Cite news|last=Goldenstein|first=Taylor|date=2022-02-24|title=As human trafficking surged, AG Ken Paxton tallied just 4 convictions in 2 years|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/As-human-trafficking-surged-in-the-pandemic-16944533.php|access-date=2022-02-25|website=Houston Chronicle|language=en-US|archive-date=February 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220225015414/https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/As-human-trafficking-surged-in-the-pandemic-16944533.php|url-status=live}}

In 2018, Paxton falsely claimed that undocumented immigrants had committed over 600,000 crimes since 2011 in Texas.{{Cite news|url=https://www.politifact.com/texas/statements/2018/sep/07/ken-paxton/ken-paxton-draws-debunked-figures-says-illegals-co/|title=Pants on Fire: Ken Paxton's claim about 600,000 Texas crimes|work=Politifact|access-date=September 8, 2018|language=en|archive-date=September 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180907212431/https://www.politifact.com/texas/statements/2018/sep/07/ken-paxton/ken-paxton-draws-debunked-figures-says-illegals-co/|url-status=live}} PolitiFact said that it had debunked the numbers before, and that the numbers exceed the state's estimates by more than 400%.

Paxton led a coalition of twenty-six states challenging President Barack Obama's Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA) executive action, which granted deferred action status to certain undocumented immigrants who had lived in the United States since 2010 and had children who were American citizens or lawful permanent residents.{{cite news|last1=Liptak|first1=Adam|last2=Shear|first2=Michael|title=Supreme Court to Hear Challenge to Obama Immigration Actions|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/20/us/politics/supreme-court-to-hear-challenge-to-obama-immigration-actions.html |access-date=October 10, 2016|work=The New York Times|date=January 19, 2016|archive-date=January 22, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160122224409/http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/20/us/politics/supreme-court-to-hear-challenge-to-obama-immigration-actions.html |url-status=live}} Paxton argued that the president should not be allowed to "unilaterally rewrite congressional laws and circumvent the people's representatives". The Supreme Court heard the case, United States v. Texas, and issued a split 4-4 ruling in the case in June 2016. Because of the split ruling, a 2015 lower-court ruling invalidating Obama's plan was left in place.{{cite news|last1=Hurley|first1=Lawrence|title=Split Supreme Court blocks Obama immigration plan|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-court-immigration-idUSKCN0Z91P4|access-date=October 10, 2016|publisher=Reuters|date=June 24, 2016|archive-date=October 11, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011060013/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-court-immigration-idUSKCN0Z91P4|url-status=live}}.

In July 2017, Paxton led a group of Republican Attorneys General and Idaho Governor Butch Otter in threatening the Trump administration that they would litigate if the president did not terminate the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy that had been put into place by President Barack Obama, although never implemented in Texas because of legal action on behalf of the state.{{cite news |author=Julián Aguilar |date=June 29, 2017 |title=Texas leads 10 states in urging Trump to end Obama-era immigration program |newspaper=Texas Tribune |access-date=September 2, 2017 |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2017/06/29/texas-leads-10-states-urging-trump-end-daca/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170902093520/https://www.texastribune.org/2017/06/29/texas-leads-10-states-urging-trump-end-daca/ |archive-date=September 2, 2017}} The other Attorneys General who joined in making the threats to Trump included Steve Marshall of Alabama, Leslie Rutledge of Arkansas, Lawrence Wasden of Idaho, Derek Schmidt of Kansas, Jeff Landry of Louisiana, Doug Peterson of Nebraska, Alan Wilson of South Carolina, and Patrick Morrisey of West Virginia.[https://www.splcenter.org/news/2017/06/30/splc-denounces-letter-10-attorneys-general-seeking-%E2%80%98cruel-and-heartless%E2%80%99-repeal-daca "SPLC denounces letter from 10 Attorneys General seeking 'cruel and heartless' repeal of DACA"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170902141657/https://www.splcenter.org/news/2017/06/30/splc-denounces-letter-10-attorneys-general-seeking-%E2%80%98cruel-and-heartless%E2%80%99-repeal-daca |date=September 2, 2017}}, Southern Poverty Law Center, June 30, 2017. Retrieved September 2, 2017.

Paxton has sued six Texas cities to remove decriminalization measures adopted by citizens in those municipalities.{{cite news |last1=Simpson |first1=Stephen |title=Ken Paxton adds Dallas to list of cities he's sued over marijuana decriminalization |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/21/texas-cities-marijuana-ken-paxton-lawsuits/ |access-date=30 March 2025 |work=The Texas Tribune |date=November 21, 2024 |language=en}}

In 2017, Paxton voiced support for the application of eminent domain to obtain right-of-way along the Rio Grande in Texas for construction of the border wall advocated by President Donald Trump as a means to curtail illegal immigration. Paxton said that private landowners must receive a fair price when property is taken for the pending construction. He said that the wall serves "a public purpose providing safety to people not only along the border, but to the entire nation. ... I want people to be treated fairly, so they shouldn't just have their land taken from them," but there must be just compensation.Leif Reigstad, [http://www.texasmonthly.com/the-daily-post/paxton-says-eminent-domain-okay-build-trumps-border-wall-texas-roundup/ "Paxton Says Eminent Domain is Okay to Build Trump's Border Wall"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170824175636/http://www.texasmonthly.com/the-daily-post/paxton-says-eminent-domain-okay-build-trumps-border-wall-texas-roundup/ |date=August 24, 2017}}, Texas Monthly, March 28, 2017.

In 2017, Paxton joined thirteen other state attorneys general in filing a friend-of-the-court briefs in defense of both Trump's first and second executive orders on travel and immigration primarily from majority-Muslim countries (informally referred to as the "Muslim ban"). In filings in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, and the U.S. Supreme Court, Paxton argued that the order—which places a 90-day ban on the issuance of visas to travel from six designated majority-Muslim countries, imposes a 120-day halt on the admission of refugees to the U.S., and caps annual refugee admissions to 50,000 people—is constitutionally and legally valid.{{cite news|author=James Barragán|newspaper=The Dallas Morning News|title=Texas AG Paxton leads 13-state coalition backing Trump's revised immigration orders|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2017/03/27/paxton-leads-13-state-coalition-backing-trumps-revised-immigration-orders|date=March 27, 2017|access-date=August 24, 2017|archive-date=April 29, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170429022123/https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2017/03/27/paxton-leads-13-state-coalition-backing-trumps-revised-immigration-orders|url-status=live}}{{cite news|author=Chuck Lindell|newspaper=Austin American-Statesman|title=Ken Paxton asks Supreme Court to uphold Trump travel ban|url=http://www.mystatesman.com/news/ken-paxton-asks-supreme-court-uphold-trump-travel-ban/SxgrV2C2vBd3ADRkVwkPIP/|date=June 6, 2017|access-date=August 24, 2017|archive-date=August 24, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170824180831/http://www.mystatesman.com/news/ken-paxton-asks-supreme-court-uphold-trump-travel-ban/SxgrV2C2vBd3ADRkVwkPIP/|url-status=live}}

In May 2017, Paxton filed a preemptive lawsuit designed to ascertain the constitutionality of the new Texas law imposing penalties on sanctuary cities, known as SB 4, signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott. The law imposes penalties on local officials who place restrictions on their police forces or other agencies' cooperation with immigration enforcement, and requires county jails to honor requests from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to hold detainees suspected of being eligible for deportation.{{cite news |last1=Buch |first1=Jason |title=5th Circuit upholds Texas' "sanctuary cities" law |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/article/5th-Circuit-upholds-Texas-sanctuary-cities-law-12751213.php |access-date=18 December 2020 |work=Houston Chronicle |date=March 13, 2018 |archive-date=November 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126132945/https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/article/5th-Circuit-upholds-Texas-sanctuary-cities-law-12751213.php |url-status=live }} The suit asked the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas to clarify whether the law is at odds with the Fourth and Fourteenth constitutional amendments or is not in conflict with some other federal law. Paxton said that the measure "is constitutional, lawful and a vital step in securing our borders". Among those opposed to the measure are the police chiefs and sheriffs of some of the largest jurisdictions in Texas. Critics call the ban legalization of discrimination against minorities, and suits against the legislation are expected to be filed.{{Cite news|url=http://www.texasmonthly.com|title=Ken Paxton files preeminent lawsuit to protect sanctuary cities ban|magazine=Texas Monthly|date=May 9, 2017|access-date=May 11, 2017|archive-date=May 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170510043105/http://www.texasmonthly.com/|url-status=live}} Although initially key aspects of the law were enjoined by the court, the US Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld nearly all of it on appeal, except for a provision that interfered with the First Amendment right to freedom of expression on the subject by local officials.

Paxton has mounted a legal challenge to the Clean Power Plan, which is President Obama's "state-by-state effort to fight climate change by shifting away from coal power to cleaner-burning natural gas and renewable resources".{{cite news|last1=Malewitz|first1=Jim|title=Paxton Blasts Clean Power Plan Ahead of High-Profile Legal Arguments|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2016/09/26/paxton-blasts-clean-power-plan-ahead-high-profile-/|access-date=October 10, 2016|newspaper=The Texas Tribune|date=September 26, 2016|archive-date=October 11, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011135855/https://www.texastribune.org/2016/09/26/paxton-blasts-clean-power-plan-ahead-high-profile-/|url-status=live}} Paxton has said that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is trying to "force Texas to change how we regulate energy production" through an "unprecedented expansion of federal authority". The Clean Power Plan would require Texas to cut an annual average of 51 million tons of emissions, down 21 percent from 2012 levels. Paxton says the required reductions would cost the state jobs, push electricity costs too high, and threaten reliability on the electrical grid. Paxton says there is no evidence that the plan will mitigate climate change, directly contradicting studies by the EPA that have shown the regulation will reduce carbon pollution by 870 million tons in 2030.{{cite news|last1=Sadasivam|first1=Naveena|title=Paxton: 'No Evidence' Obama's Clean Power Plan Will Mitigate Climate Change|url=https://www.texasobserver.org/paxton-clean-power-plan-climate-change/|access-date=October 10, 2016|newspaper=Texas Observer|date=September 26, 2016|archive-date=September 28, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160928170009/https://www.texasobserver.org/paxton-clean-power-plan-climate-change/|url-status=live}} He further asserts that the EPA lacks the statutory authority to write the state's policies.{{cite news|last1=Mayberry|first1=Ed|title=Appeals Court To Consider EPA's Plan To Limit Coal-fired Power Plant Emissions|url=https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/2016/10/03/169721/appeals-court-to-consider-epas-plan-to-limit-coal-fired-power-plant-emissions/|access-date=October 10, 2016|publisher=KUHT |date=October 3, 2016|archive-date=October 11, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011140431/https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/2016/10/03/169721/appeals-court-to-consider-epas-plan-to-limit-coal-fired-power-plant-emissions/|url-status=live}}

{{Main|ExxonMobil climate change controversy}}

In 2016, Paxton was one of eleven Republican state attorneys general who sided with ExxonMobil in the company's suit to block a climate change probe by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.Andrea Zelinski, [http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/politics/texas/article/Paxton-again-sides-with-Exxon-Mobile-in-climate-9213747.php "Paxton again sides with Exxon Mobil in climate change probe: 11 attorneys general suing to block probe by Massachusetts"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160911181300/http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/politics/texas/article/Paxton-again-sides-with-Exxon-Mobile-in-climate-9213747.php|date=September 11, 2016}}, Houston Chronicle (September 9, 2016).

Paxton and the other state AGs filed an amicus curiae brief, contending that Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey used her office to "tip the scales on a public policy debate, undermine the first Amendment and abuse the office's subpoena power".{{cite news|last1=Zelinski|first1=Andrea|date=September 9, 2016|title=Paxton accuses Massachusetts AG of climate change 'witch-hunt'|newspaper=Houston Chronicle|url=http://www.chron.com/news/politics/texas/article/Paxton-accuses-Massachusetts-AG-of-climate-change-9212696.php|url-status=live|access-date=October 10, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011055521/http://www.chron.com/news/politics/texas/article/Paxton-accuses-Massachusetts-AG-of-climate-change-9212696.php|archive-date=October 11, 2016}} Healey had launched a probe of ExxonMobil's historical marketing and sale of fossil fuel products, requiring the company to produce 40 years worth of documents regarding fossil fuel products and securities. Healey said the documents would prove that ExxonMobil "knew about the risks of climate change decades ago and fraudulently concealed that knowledge from the public".{{cite news|last1=Yack|first1=Austin|date=September 15, 2016|title=Texas's AG Pushes Back on the 'Green 20' Coalition's Anti-ExxonMobil Subpoenas|newspaper=National Review|url=http://www.nationalreview.com/article/440084/climate-change-ken-paxton-mara-healeys-exxonmobil-subpoenas|url-status=live|access-date=October 10, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011060508/http://www.nationalreview.com/article/440084/climate-change-ken-paxton-mara-healeys-exxonmobil-subpoenas|archive-date=October 11, 2016}} The amicus brief supported Exxon Mobil's motion for a preliminary injunction. Paxton questioned Healey's use of law-enforcement authority regarding the global warming controversy, which he called an "ongoing public policy debate of international importance". Paxton described Healey's attempts to obtain historical company records for a public policy debate as a threat to freedom of speech, stating: "The Constitution was written to protect citizens from government witch-hunts that are nothing more than an attempt to suppress speech on an issue of public importance, just because a government official happens to disagree with that particular viewpoint." The brief portrayed climate change as an issue that was still a matter of scientific debate, although in fact the scientific consensus is that the earth is warming and human activity is primarily responsible.

U.S. Virgin Islands attorney general Claude Walker had also issued a subpoena for Exxon's records. Paxton issued a request to intervene in the case, stating: "What is Exxon Mobil's transgression? Holding a view about climate change that the Attorney General of the Virgin Islands disagrees with. This is about the criminalization of speech and thought." Walker dropped the subpoena in June 2016.{{cite news|last1=Malewitz|first1=Jim|date=June 27, 2016|title=A Closer Look at the Texas Twist in Fight Between Exxon, Virgin Islands|newspaper=The Texas Tribune|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2016/06/27/texas-paxton-exxon-virgin-islands-climate/|url-status=live|access-date=October 10, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011055153/https://www.texastribune.org/2016/06/27/texas-paxton-exxon-virgin-islands-climate/|archive-date=October 11, 2016}}

Paxton sued the Obama administration over a 2016 rule by the United States Department of Labor which would have made five million additional workers eligible for overtime pay. The rule would have meant workers earning up to an annual salary of $47,500 would become eligible for overtime pay when working more than 40 hours per week.{{cite news|last1=Young|first1=Stephen|title=State of Texas Sues to Stop New Federal Overtime Rules|url=http://www.dallasobserver.com/news/state-of-texas-sues-to-stop-new-federal-overtime-rules-8726521|access-date=October 10, 2016|newspaper=Dallas Observer|date=September 21, 2016|archive-date=October 11, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011055641/http://www.dallasobserver.com/news/state-of-texas-sues-to-stop-new-federal-overtime-rules-8726521|url-status=live}} Paxton has said the new regulations "may lead to disastrous consequences for our economy". Along with Texas, twenty other states have joined the lawsuit.{{cite news|last1=Svitek|first1=Patrick|title=Texas Sues Obama Administration Over New Overtime Rule|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2016/09/20/texas-sues-obama-administration-over-new-overtime-/|access-date=October 10, 2016|newspaper=The Texas Tribune|date=September 20, 2016|archive-date=October 11, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011054837/https://www.texastribune.org/2016/09/20/texas-sues-obama-administration-over-new-overtime-/|url-status=live}}

Paxton is involved in a legal challenge to a rule by the Department of Labor which forces employers to report any "actions, conduct or communications" undertaken to "affect an employee's decisions regarding his or her representation or collective bargaining rights".{{cite news|last1=Marquez|first1=Denise|date=May 10, 2016|title=Paxton joins challenge against Department of Labor's Persuader Rule|work=Lubbock Avalanche-Journal|url=http://lubbockonline.com/local-news/2016-05-10/paxton-joins-challenge-against-department-labors-persuader-rule#|url-status=live|access-date=October 10, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160519113603/http://lubbockonline.com/local-news/2016-05-10/paxton-joins-challenge-against-department-labors-persuader-rule|archive-date=May 19, 2016}} Known as the "persuader rule", the new regulation went into effect in April 2016. Opponents of the rule say it will prevent employers from speaking on labor issues or seeking legal counsel. In June 2016, a federal judge granted a preliminary injunction against the rule. Paxton called the injunction "a victory for the preservation of the sanctity of attorney-client confidentiality".{{cite news|last1=Wheeler|first1=Lydia|date=June 7, 2016|title=Judge temporarily blocks DOL union 'persuader rule'|work=The Hill|url=https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/285042-texas-judge-temporarily-blocks-dol-union-persuader-rule/|url-status=live|access-date=October 10, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161001204020/http://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/285042-texas-judge-temporarily-blocks-dol-union-persuader-rule|archive-date=October 1, 2016}}

As Attorney General, Paxton appointed several social conservatives and prominent opponents of LGBT rights to positions in his department.{{cite news|url=https://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/news/2016-04-12/paxton-stacks-ags-office-with-anti-lgbt-culture-warriors/|title=Paxton Stacks AG's Office With Anti-LGBT Culture Warriors|newspaper=The Austin Chronicle|date=April 12, 2016|access-date=February 7, 2018|archive-date=February 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180208004646/https://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/news/2016-04-12/paxton-stacks-ags-office-with-anti-lgbt-culture-warriors/|url-status=live}}

In June 2015, after the issuance of the Obergefell v. Hodges decision, in which the Supreme Court ruled that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry, Paxton offered support for clerks who refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. His statement said, "I will do everything I can from this office to be a public voice for those standing in defense of their rights."{{cite news|last1=Garrett|first1=Robert T.|title=Texas AG Ken Paxton lends moral support to clerks who refuse gay marriages|url=http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/headlines/20150628-paxton-lends-moral-support-to-clerks-who-refuse-gay-marriages.ece|work=The Dallas Morning News|date=June 28, 2015|access-date=June 30, 2015|archive-date=July 1, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150701135759/http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/headlines/20150628-paxton-lends-moral-support-to-clerks-who-refuse-gay-marriages.ece|url-status=live}}

In 2016, Paxton led a coalition of thirteen states that sought an injunction to block a guidance letter issued by the Department of Education and Department of Justice that interpreted Title IX to require public schools to allow transgender students to use restrooms that accorded with their gender identity.John Wright, [https://www.texasobserver.org/hearing-set-federal-trans-lawsuit-paxton/ "Paxton's Transgender Bathroom Lawsuit Goes to Court Friday"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170517061533/https://www.texasobserver.org/hearing-set-federal-trans-lawsuit-paxton/ |date=May 17, 2017}}, Texas Observer (August 9, 2016).{{cite news|last1=Richardson|first1=Bradford|title=Texas AG leads fight against Obama's bathroom order|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/jul/7/ken-paxton-texas-ag-leads-fight-against-obamas-bat/|access-date=July 25, 2016|work=The Washington Times|date=July 7, 2016|archive-date=July 13, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160713225250/http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/jul/7/ken-paxton-texas-ag-leads-fight-against-obamas-bat/|url-status=live}} Paxton submitted court filings alleging the Obama administration had "conspired to turn workplaces and educational settings across the country into laboratories for a massive social experiment" and termed the directive a "gun to the head" that threatens the independence of school districts.{{cite news|last1=McGaughy|first1=Lauren|title=Texas AG Ken Paxton wants court to halt Obama edict on transgender bathrooms before school starts|url=http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/headlines/20160706-texas-ag-ken-paxton-wants-court-to-halt-obama-edict-on-transgender-bathrooms-before-school-starts.ece|access-date=July 25, 2016|newspaper=Dallas Morning News|date=July 6, 2016|archive-date=July 10, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160710175738/http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/headlines/20160706-texas-ag-ken-paxton-wants-court-to-halt-obama-edict-on-transgender-bathrooms-before-school-starts.ece|url-status=live}} In September 2016, Paxton and his wife had dinner with activist Amber Briggle and her family, including her trans son.{{cite news |last1=Hensley |first1=Nicole |title=Texas attorney general Ken Paxton joins family of transgender boy, 8, for dinner despite filing anti-LGBT lawsuit targeting bathroom mandate |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/texas-attorney-behind-anti-lgbt-case-dines-transgender-boy-article-1.2778130 |access-date=March 16, 2022 |work=New York Daily News |date=September 5, 2016 |archive-date=March 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220316045638/https://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/texas-attorney-behind-anti-lgbt-case-dines-transgender-boy-article-1.2778130 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Fine |first1=Julie |title=Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton Has Dinner With Family of Transgender Boy |url=https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton-has-dinner-with-family-of-transgender-boy/2027274/ |access-date=15 March 2022 |publisher=KXAS-TV |date=September 2, 2016 |archive-date=April 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220419041123/https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton-has-dinner-with-family-of-transgender-boy/2027274/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=McPhate |first1=Christian |title=Denton Mom of Transgender Son Waiting for Texas AG Paxton to Set Date for Meal Together |url=https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/denton-mom-of-transgender-son-waiting-for-texas-ag-paxton-to-set-date-for-meal-together-8632479 |access-date=15 March 2022 |work=Dallas Observer |date=August 25, 2016 |archive-date=April 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220408210408/https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/denton-mom-of-transgender-son-waiting-for-texas-ag-paxton-to-set-date-for-meal-together-8632479 |url-status=live }} The states dropped the suit after the directive was revoked by President Donald Trump.[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-lgbt-idUSKBN16A0CK "Eleven U.S. states to drop suit over transgender bathroom order"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170421103240/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-lgbt-idUSKBN16A0CK |date=April 21, 2017}}, Reuters (March 2, 2017).

On February 18, 2022, Paxton issued a new interpretation of Texas law in a written opinion that characterized gender-affirming health care (such as hormone treatments and puberty blockers) for transgender youths as child abuse. Established medical practice allows for puberty blockers to be explored after initial signs of puberty, although evidence for their use is still evolving.{{Cite news|date=2022-02-21|title=Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton: Gender-affirming care for transgender children is abuse|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2022/02/21/texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton-health-care-for-transgender-children-is-abuse/|access-date=2022-02-22|website=The Dallas Morning News|language=en|archive-date=February 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220222140524/https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2022/02/21/texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton-health-care-for-transgender-children-is-abuse/|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|date=2021-04-01|title=Evidence for puberty blockers use very low, says NICE|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/health-56601386|access-date=2022-05-23|publisher=BBC News|language=en|archive-date=May 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220520232933/https://www.bbc.com/news/health-56601386|url-status=live}} On February 28, Amber Briggle was notified that the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services had opened an investigation into her family.{{cite news |last1=Sosin |first1=Kate |title='I don't know where it's safe': Family of trans child who dined with Ken Paxton is facing child abuse investigation |url=https://19thnews.org/2022/03/texas-briggle-family-trans-child-investigation-ken-paxton/ |access-date=March 16, 2022 |work=The 19th |date=March 8, 2022 |archive-date=March 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220316195328/https://19thnews.org/2022/03/texas-briggle-family-trans-child-investigation-ken-paxton/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Hurley |first1=Bevan |title=They hosted him for dinner. Now he's accusing them of child abuse |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/texas-transgender-law-parents-ken-paxton-b2032366.html |access-date=March 16, 2022 |work=The Independent |date=March 10, 2022 |archive-date=March 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220315160453/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/texas-transgender-law-parents-ken-paxton-b2032366.html |url-status=live }} On March 11, a Texas District Court issued a temporary injunction, which temporarily stopped state investigations into families who provide gender-affirming medical care for their children, and scheduled a trial for July 11, 2022.{{cite news |last1=Michaels |first1=Samantha |title=Texas Has Been Investigating the Briggle Family Because of Their Trans Son. Here's Their Story. |url=https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2022/03/texas-transgender-kids-child-protective-service-investigation-briggle-family/ |access-date=15 March 2022 |work=Mother Jones |date=March 11, 2022 |archive-date=April 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220406184521/https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2022/03/texas-transgender-kids-child-protective-service-investigation-briggle-family/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Villafranca |first1=Omar |title=Texas judge temporarily blocks state from investigating parents over medical care for transgender children |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/texas-judge-temporarily-blocks-governor-greg-abbott-order-on-transgender-medical-care/?ftag=CNM-00-10aab7e |access-date=March 16, 2022 |publisher=CBS News |date=March 11, 2022 |archive-date=March 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220315020004/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/texas-judge-temporarily-blocks-governor-greg-abbott-order-on-transgender-medical-care/?ftag=CNM-00-10aab7e |url-status=live }}

In June 2022, Paxton said he would defend state laws prohibiting sodomy or consensual same-sex sexual relationships if the Supreme Court precedent invalidating such laws, the Lawrence v. Texas decision, was overturned.{{Cite news |title=Ken Paxton says state could prosecute sodomy laws should Supreme Court, Texas law allow it |url=https://www.texasstandard.org/stories/ken-paxton-says-state-could-prosecute-sodomy-laws-should-supreme-court-texas-law-allow-it/ |access-date=2022-12-09 |work=Texas Standard |publisher=KUT |language=en-US |archive-date=December 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221209044917/https://www.texasstandard.org/stories/ken-paxton-says-state-could-prosecute-sodomy-laws-should-supreme-court-texas-law-allow-it/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |title=State AG Ken Paxton says he's ready to defend a Texas sodomy law |url=https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/state-ag-ken-paxton-says-s-ready-defend-texas-sodomy-law-rcna36097 |access-date=2022-12-09 |website=MSNBC |language=en |archive-date=December 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221209044916/https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/state-ag-ken-paxton-says-s-ready-defend-texas-sodomy-law-rcna36097 |url-status=live }} On March 17, 2022, Paxton made a post on Twitter in which he referred to U.S. Assistant Secretary for Health Rachel Levine – a trans woman — as a man. Twitter flagged the tweet for violating its conduct rules, but did not remove the post.{{cite news |last1=Gardia |first1=Ariana |title=Twitter flags Ken Paxton tweet as 'hateful conduct' for misgendering four-star admiral |url=https://www.chron.com/politics/article/Twitter-flags-Ken-Paxton-tweet-transgender-hate-17011569.php |access-date=March 18, 2022 |work=Houston Chronicle |date=March 18, 2022 |archive-date=March 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220318225452/https://www.chron.com/politics/article/Twitter-flags-Ken-Paxton-tweet-transgender-hate-17011569.php |url-status=live }} The following day, Paxton tweeted a statement in which he again referred to Levine as a man, and stated that he was "exploring legal options" against Twitter.{{cite news |last1=McGaughy |first1=Lauren |title=Texas AG Ken Paxton refuses to call transgender official Rachel Levine a woman — again |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2022/03/18/texas-ag-ken-paxton-refuses-to-call-transgender-official-rachel-levine-a-woman-again/ |access-date=March 18, 2022 |work=The Dallas Morning News |date=March 18, 2022 |archive-date=March 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220318234303/https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2022/03/18/texas-ag-ken-paxton-refuses-to-call-transgender-official-rachel-levine-a-woman-again/ |url-status=live }} During that same month, according to a report by The Washington Post, Paxton's office requested a list of citizens who had changed their gender on their driver's licenses, circumventing the accepted procedure of contacting DPS' government relations and general counsel's offices by instead directly contacting the driver license division staff. No reason was given for this request. In August, the data was provided to Paxton's office, despite that in November 2022, officials indicated the office had no such information.{{cite news |title=Texas attorney general's office sought state data on transgender Texans |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2022/12/14/ken-paxton-transgender-texas-data/ |last=Hennessy-Fiske |first=Molly |work=The Texas Tribune |date=2022-12-14 |access-date=2022-12-14 |archive-date=December 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221215023504/https://www.texastribune.org/2022/12/14/ken-paxton-transgender-texas-data/ |url-status=live }}

In December 2023, the Texas Attorney General's office was sued by Seattle Children's Hospital for having subpoenaed private medical information about any minors of Texas residence who may have received gender-affirming medical care. The AG's office responded that it was investigating the hospital for deceptive trade practices. The suit seeks to have the subpoena dismissed and alleges that Paxton overstepped his authority, requested information protected by federal and state law, violated Washington state's shield law, and that the subpoena is an effort to chill travel to Washington for medical care.{{cite news |last=Melhado |first=William |date=December 21, 2023 |title=Seattle Children's Hospital sues Texas Attorney General over trans patient records |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2023/12/21/texas-attorney-general-trans-seattle-childrens/ |work=The Texas Tribune |access-date=January 12, 2024}}

In December 2024, Paxton sued the NCAA, arguing that allowing trans women to compete in women's sporting events was "false, deceptive, and misleading" to attendees.{{cite news |last1=Chuck |first1=Ellizabeth |title=Texas attorney general sues NCAA over transgender athletes competing in women's sports |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/sports/college-sports/texas-attorney-general-sues-ncaa-trans-athletes-womens-sports-rcna185256 |access-date=December 25, 2024 |work=NBC News |date=December 23, 2024}}

In 2012, Paxton was part of a lawsuit by 33 state attorneys general against Apple, charging the company with violating antitrust laws by conspiring with publishers to artificially raise the prices of electronic books.{{cite news|title=2nd Circuit Affirms $450 Million Settlement In Apple E-Book Antitrust Suit|url=http://www.lexislegalnews.com/articles/6140/2nd-circuit-affirms-450-million-settlement-in-apple-e-book-antitrust-suit|access-date=October 10, 2016|publisher=Lexis Legal News|date=February 19, 2016|archive-date=October 11, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011063226/http://www.lexislegalnews.com/articles/6140/2nd-circuit-affirms-450-million-settlement-in-apple-e-book-antitrust-suit|url-status=live}} Apple was ordered to pay $400 million to U.S. consumers who paid artificially inflated prices for e-books, and $20 million to the states in reimbursement for legal costs.{{cite news|title=Apple to pay millions for its role in scheme to inflate e-book prices|url=http://www.kingsvillerecord.com/apple-to-pay-millions-for-its-role-in-scheme-to/article_75a3b27e-b946-55e7-9595-109473ae98bd.html|access-date=October 10, 2016|newspaper=Kingsville Record & Bishop News|date=March 9, 2016|archive-date=November 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181105232628/http://www.kingsvillerecord.com/apple-to-pay-millions-for-its-role-in-scheme-to/article_75a3b27e-b946-55e7-9595-109473ae98bd.html|url-status=live}}

In 2016, Volkswagen settled a lawsuit brought by 44 states against to the company for using software that allowed its vehicles to circumvent emissions limits. Texas's share of the settlement was $50 million.{{cite news|last1=Collier|first1=Kiah|title=Texas Gets $50 Million in Massive Volkswagen Settlement|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2016/06/28/volkswagen-awarding-texas-50-million/|access-date=October 10, 2016|newspaper=The Texas Tribune |date=June 28, 2016|archive-date=October 11, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011055652/https://www.texastribune.org/2016/06/28/volkswagen-awarding-texas-50-million/|url-status=live}}

Paxton is part of a 21-state lawsuit against the state of Delaware, alleging that MoneyGram gave uncashed checks to the state of Delaware instead of the state where the money order or travelers check was bought. The case, Delaware v. Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, went directly to the U.S. Supreme Court because it was a dispute among states.{{cite news|title=Texas sues Delaware over MoneyGram payments|url=http://www.kvue.com/news/local/texas-sues-delaware-over-moneygram-payments/238034619|access-date=October 10, 2016|publisher=KVUE|date=June 9, 2015|archive-date=October 19, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161019135424/http://www.kvue.com/news/local/texas-sues-delaware-over-moneygram-payments/238034619|url-status=live}}{{cite news |last1=Livington |first1=Abby |date=June 9, 2016 |title=Texas Launches Lawsuit Against Delaware over Unclaimed Checks |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2016/06/09/ken-paxton-sues-delaware-over-unclaimed-checks/ |access-date=October 10, 2016 |newspaper=The Texas Tribune |archive-date=October 11, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011135858/https://www.texastribune.org/2016/06/09/ken-paxton-sues-delaware-over-unclaimed-checks/ |url-status=live}}

In 2015, the Texas State Legislature passed a law implementing property tax reductions by increasing the homestead exemption to $25,000 and prohibiting localities from reducing or repealing any local option homestead exemption already on the books. After this law was passed, 21 school districts reduced or eliminated their local optional homestead exemptions.

In 2016, Paxton intervened in a lawsuit challenging the practice of school districts reducing or repealing their local optional homestead exemptions.{{cite news|last1=Cobler|first1=Nicole|last2=Collier|first2=Kiah|title=Lawsuit Backed by Ken Paxton Could Spell Trouble for 21 Texas School Districts|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2016/09/15/lawsuit-backed-ken-paxton-could-spell-trouble-21-t/|access-date=October 10, 2016|newspaper=The Texas Tribune|date=September 15, 2016|archive-date=October 11, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011135902/https://www.texastribune.org/2016/09/15/lawsuit-backed-ken-paxton-could-spell-trouble-21-t/|url-status=live}}

In 2016, three University of Texas at Austin professors sued in an effort to ban concealed handguns from campus, blocking the state's campus carry law. Paxton called the lawsuit "frivolous" and moved to dismiss.{{cite news|last1=Haurwitz|first1=Ralph K.M.|title=Paxton wants UT professors' campus carry gun lawsuit tossed|url=http://www.statesman.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/paxton-wants-ut-professors-campus-carry-lawsuit-to/nr8Wq/|access-date=October 10, 2016|newspaper=Austin American-Statesman|date=August 2, 2016|archive-date=October 11, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011141820/http://www.statesman.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/paxton-wants-ut-professors-campus-carry-lawsuit-to/nr8Wq/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last1=Pattani|first1=Aneri|title=Paxton Says "Frivolous" Campus Carry Lawsuit Has No Merit|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2016/08/02/paxton-files-brief-opposing-frivolous-campus-carry/|access-date=October 10, 2016|newspaper=The Texas Tribune|date=August 2, 2016|archive-date=October 11, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011055503/https://www.texastribune.org/2016/08/02/paxton-files-brief-opposing-frivolous-campus-carry/|url-status=live}} The federal district court dismissed the suit in 2017, and the dismissal was upheld by a three-judge panel of the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in 2018.{{Cite news|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2018/08/16/appeals-court-rejects-texas-campus-carry-lawsuit/|title=Federal appeals court upholds Texas campus carry law|first=Cassandra Pollock and Emma|last=Platoff|date=August 17, 2018|website=The Texas Tribune|access-date=September 4, 2019|archive-date=September 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190904222429/https://www.texastribune.org/2018/08/16/appeals-court-rejects-texas-campus-carry-lawsuit/|url-status=live}}

In 2016, Paxton sued the City of Austin to allow license holders to openly carry handguns in Austin City Hall.{{cite news|last1=Silver|first1=Johnathan|title=Paxton Sues to Get Guns Into Austin City Hall|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2016/07/28/paxton-sues-city-austin-over-open-carry-law/|access-date=October 10, 2016|newspaper=The Texas Tribune|date=July 28, 2016|archive-date=October 11, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011060019/https://www.texastribune.org/2016/07/28/paxton-sues-city-austin-over-open-carry-law/|url-status=live}} Paxton prevailed, and the court decided not only that the city of Austin must allow such carry, but also ordered it to pay a fine to the state for each day it prevented investigators from the attorney general's office from carrying their firearms.{{Cite news|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2019/01/17/austin-city-hall-must-allow-guns-judge-rules/|title=Travis County court says Austin must allow guns in its city hall, siding with Ken Paxton|first=Alex|last=Samuels|date=January 17, 2019|website=The Texas Tribune|access-date=September 4, 2019|archive-date=September 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190904223059/https://www.texastribune.org/2019/01/17/austin-city-hall-must-allow-guns-judge-rules/|url-status=live}}

In March 2017, Paxton told The Washington Times that he was convinced that voter fraud exists in Texas, and claimed that local election officials in Texas were not on the lookout for detecting fraud.{{Cite news|author=Alex Swoyer|date=March 14, 2017|title=Texas attorney general backs up Trump claim of noncitizens voting at polls |newspaper=The Washington Times |url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/mar/14/ken-paxton-texas-attorney-general-backs-up-donald-/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170317191631/http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/mar/14/ken-paxton-texas-attorney-general-backs-up-donald-/|archive-date=March 17, 2017|access-date=March 18, 2017}} According to a July 11, 2021 The New York Times, even though voter fraud is "very rare in the United States"—most cases are minor errors on the part of a voter,{{Cite news |last=Montgomery |first=Dave |title=Texas Attorney General Is Being Investigated by State Bar Association |work=The New York Times |access-date=July 11, 2021 |date=June 10, 2021 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/10/us/ken-paxton-texas-state-bar.html |archive-date=July 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210710215208/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/10/us/ken-paxton-texas-state-bar.html |url-status=live }} Paxton "made it a mission" as attorney general to lay voter-charge charges; According to a July 9, 2021 article in The Guardian, "[F]ew prosecutors have pursued election-related crimes more than Paxton."{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jul/09/texas-voter-arrested-hervis-rogers-ken-paxton |newspaper=The Guardian |date=July 9, 2021 |access-date=July 9, 2021 |title=Texas man who waited seven hours at polls is charged with voting illegally |first=Sam |last=Levine |archive-date=July 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709213414/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jul/09/texas-voter-arrested-hervis-rogers-ken-paxton |url-status=live }}

By February 2017—as part of his "crusade" against voter fraud{{cite news |first=Michael |last=Wines |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/10/us/illegal-voting-gets-texas-woman-8-years-in-prison-and-certain-deportation.html |title=Illegal Voting Gets Texas Woman 8 Years in Prison, and Certain Deportation |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170515080654/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/10/us/illegal-voting-gets-texas-woman-8-years-in-prison-and-certain-deportation.html |archive-date=May 15, 2017 |newspaper=The New York Times |date=February 10, 2017}} Paxton sought to investigate 2016 Texas voting records—such as access to individual voting history and application materials for voter registrations—to uncover potential voter fraud, for example, voting by non-citizens or in the name of the deceased. In February 2017, officials in Bexar County said there have been no major cases of voter fraud in San Antonio.Fauzeya Rahman, "State seeks Bexar records tied to possible voter fraud: AG's office cites elections last year", San Antonio Express-News, February 17, 2017, p, A4 However, the Associated Press reported that the top election official in Bexar County estimates that nearly six hundred affidavits submitted by voters declined to present identification and should have been declined. Instead, the official said such voters should have been required to cast provisional ballots. AP projected that the overall number who cast improper affidavits as 13,500 in the largest Texas counties.{{Cite news |url=https://apnews.com/b7b57fc61c5b462d871a942864c0afad/ap-exclusive-hundreds-texans-may-have-voted-improperly|title=AP Exclusive: Hundreds of Texans may have voted improperly|author=David Saleh Rauf|publisher=Associated Press|date=February 19, 2017|access-date=June 1, 2017|archive-date=July 3, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170703021326/https://apnews.com/b7b57fc61c5b462d871a942864c0afad/ap-exclusive-hundreds-texans-may-have-voted-improperly|url-status=live}} Fort Bend County's top elections official said that these cases are not voter fraud, noting that only those who were registered to vote qualified for an affidavit, and that "poll workers were trained to 'err on the side of letting people use the affidavit instead of denying them the chance to vote.'" According to a May 2, 2017 ProPublica article', there was no evidence of widespread voter fraud in Texas. In 2017, the Texas Tribune reported that, experts had said there was no reliable evidence of widespread voter fraud in the United States, and a Texas study of elections over a decade determined that there were about three cases of fraud for every one million votes in the state.Ross Ramsey, [https://www.texastribune.org/2017/01/25/responding-trumps-tweets-texas-gov-greg-abbott-say/ "Analysis: Scant Evidence for Abbott's 'Rampant' Voter Fraud"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170607211253/https://www.texastribune.org/2017/01/25/responding-trumps-tweets-texas-gov-greg-abbott-say/|date=June 7, 2017}}, Texas Tribune (January 25, 2017).

In 2017, the San Antonio Express-News criticized the state's voter identification law, which Paxton seeks to have reinstated after it was struck down by United States District Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos of Corpus Christi, who found the measure to be a violation of the Voting Rights Act, and found that it was passed with the intent to discriminate against black and Hispanic voters. Paxton's office appealed the decision.Manny Fernandez, [https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/10/us/federal-judge-strikes-down-texas-voter-id-law.html "Federal Judge Says Texas Voter ID Law Intentionally Discriminates"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170524233447/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/10/us/federal-judge-strikes-down-texas-voter-id-law.html |date=May 24, 2017}}, The New York Times (April 10, 2017). Appeals continue in the case."R.I.P. voter ID in Texas? Let us hope" (editorial), San Antonio Express-News, February 17, 2017, p. A12 By May 2017, the Office of the AG's "efforts to enact and enforce the strictest voter ID law in the nation were so plagued by delays, revisions, court interventions and inadequate education that the casting of ballots in the 2016 election was inevitably troubled".{{cite news |author=Jessica Huseman |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2017/05/02/texas-failures-led-voter-id-problems-2016-election/ |title=State's failures led to voter ID problems in 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170505191500/https://www.texastribune.org/2017/05/02/texas-failures-led-voter-id-problems-2016-election/ |archive-date=May 5, 2017 |work=Texas Tribune |agency=ProPublica |date=May 2, 2017}}

Of the voter fraud cases that Paxton's office chose to pursue, 72% were people of color.{{Cite news|last=Goldenstein|first=Taylor|date=2021-03-24|title=Paxton's voter fraud prosecutions overwhelmingly target minorities, analysis shows|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/Ken-Paxton-voter-fraud-minorities-target-election-16049496.php|access-date=2021-03-24|website=Houston Chronicle|language=en-US|archive-date=March 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210324150337/https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/Ken-Paxton-voter-fraud-minorities-target-election-16049496.php|url-status=live}} Among them was Hervis Rogers, a Black man working two jobs who had been waiting six hours in a line at Houston's Texas Southern University in Harris County, Texas to vote in the March 2020 Democratic presidential primary election, and had been praised for his tenacity in exercising his right to vote.{{Cite news |last1=DeBenedetto |first1=Paul |first2=Jen |last2=Rice |title=Texas AG's Office Arrests Houston Voter Hervis Rogers For Alleged Illegal Voting |publisher=KUHT |date=July 9, 2021 |access-date=July 9, 2021 |url=https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/criminal-justice/2021/07/09/402756/texas-ags-office-arrests-houston-voter-hervis-rogers-for-alleged-illegal-voting/ |archive-date=July 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709175722/https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/criminal-justice/2021/07/09/402756/texas-ags-office-arrests-houston-voter-hervis-rogers-for-alleged-illegal-voting/ |url-status=live }} In Texas, it is a second-degree felony for a person on parole or probation to knowingly vote.Alex Nguyen, [https://www.texastribune.org/2022/10/21/texas-voter-fraud-case-ken-paxton-hervis-rogers "Voter fraud charges dismissed against Hervis Rogers, Houston man who waited hours to vote in 2020"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230524165604/https://www.texastribune.org/2022/10/21/texas-voter-fraud-case-ken-paxton-hervis-rogers/ |date=May 24, 2023 }}, Texas Tribune (October 21, 2022). Rogers had served a nine-year prison sentence for a burglary conviction in 1995; he was released on parole in 2004, and his parole ended in June 2020. In July 2021, Paxton ordered Rogers' arrest. Rogers said he was not aware that he had been ineligible to vote. Bail for Rogers was set at $100,000, which he could not afford.{{Cite news |title=A Houston Man Is Arrested For Alleged Illegal Voting As Texas GOP Seeks Tighter Laws |publisher=NPR |date=July 9, 2021 |access-date=July 9, 2021 |url=https://www.npr.org/2021/07/09/1014686526/a-houston-man-is-arrested-for-alleged-illegal-voting-as-texas-gop-seeks-tighter- |archive-date=July 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709212258/https://www.npr.org/2021/07/09/1014686526/a-houston-man-is-arrested-for-alleged-illegal-voting-as-texas-gop-seeks-tighter- |url-status=live }} Hervis was not charged in Harris County (which is majority-minority), but rather was charged in the adjacent Montgomery County, where only 4% of the population is Black. The Bail Project, a non-profit, ultimately posted bail for Rogers, and he was defended in the case by the ACLU of Texas. The charges against Rogers were dismissed in 2022, after the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals ruled that Paxton had no authority to unilaterally charge Texans with election crimes.

The Rogers case was not the first time that Paxton had indulged in "forum shopping". He tried to get a Harris County elections official indicted and tried for alleged interference with a poll watcher, attempting to obtain that indictment in Montgomery County.[https://www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/editorials/article/Editorial-Hervis-Rogers-arrest-for-voting-16323103.php "Editorial: Voting mistake arrest is Paxton's lowest blow in championing the Big Lie"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211221150743/https://www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/editorials/article/Editorial-Hervis-Rogers-arrest-for-voting-16323103.php |date=December 21, 2021 }}, Houston Chronicle, Editorial Board, July 19, 2021. Retrieved December 21, 2021.

Few Texans charged by Paxton's office served time for voter fraud. An analysis by KXAN found that 24 of 138 people convicted of voter fraud in Texas between 2004 and September 2020 spent time in jail.Taylor Goldenstein (December 22, 2020). [https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/Ken-Paxton-s-beefed-up-2020-voter-fraud-unit-15820210.php "Ken Paxton's beefed-up 2020 voter fraud unit closed 16 minor cases, all in Harris County"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210330194846/https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/Ken-Paxton-s-beefed-up-2020-voter-fraud-unit-15820210.php |date=March 30, 2021 }}. Houston Chronicle. Retrieved July 13, 2021. Paxton acknowledged that a few defendants served prison time but defended his approach as a way to "send a message." Paxton's office spent almost double the time working on voter fraud cases in 2021 as it did in 2018. It recorded spending over 22,000 staff hours on the task, but resolved only 16 prosecutions, half as many as two years prior. All of the cases were in Harris County, lodged against voters who had provided inaccurate addresses on their voter registration forms. None of those defendants were sentenced to jail time. The costs of the 230 ongoing investigations and 360 prosecutions were formidable: The chief of election fraud is paid about $140,000, a second attorney received $97,000. Two other attorneys were each being paid about $85,000.

Paxton's voter fraud investigation unit had a budget of $1.9 million to $2.2 million in 2021. By the end of the year, the office had closed only three cases of fraud.{{Cite news|last=Goldenstein|first=Taylor|date=2021-12-17|title=Paxton's $2.2M voter fraud unit closed three cases in 2021. GOP lawmakers still boosted its budget.|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/Texas-AG-Paxton-s-2-2M-voter-fraud-unit-closed-16708051.php|access-date=2021-12-17|website=Houston Chronicle|language=en-US|archive-date=January 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220114161136/https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/Texas-AG-Paxton-s-2-2M-voter-fraud-unit-closed-16708051.php|url-status=live}}

In May 2020, Paxton opposed an expansion of absentee voting to voters who lack immunity to COVID-19.{{Cite news|title=Complaint filed over Texas AG Ken Paxton's tactics to limit mail-in voting|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2020/05/12/texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton-felony-election-fraud/|last=Fernández|first=Stacy|date=May 12, 2020|website=The Texas Tribune|language=en|access-date=May 13, 2020|archive-date=May 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200517194726/https://www.texastribune.org/2020/05/12/texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton-felony-election-fraud/|url-status=live}} A state district judge ruled that such voters could apply for absentee ballots under a statutory provision that accommodates disabled individuals. After the ruling, Paxton publicly contradicted the district judge and subsequently persuaded the Texas Supreme Court to address the issue of eligibility in a separate case he filed directly in that court, while putting the appeal of the district court case on hold.{{Cite news|date=2020-05-31|title=State of Texas: Court ruling puts vote by mail eligibility decision in hands of voters|url=https://www.kxan.com/news/state-of-texas-court-ruling-puts-vote-by-mail-eligibility-decision-in-hands-of-voters/|access-date=2021-08-04|publisher=KXAN-TV|language=en-US|archive-date=August 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210804225248/https://www.kxan.com/news/state-of-texas-court-ruling-puts-vote-by-mail-eligibility-decision-in-hands-of-voters/|url-status=live}}

During the 2020 election season, which occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, Paxton sued Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins, seeking to block him from sending applications for absentee ballots to the county's 2.4 million registered voters accompanied by instructions regarding eligibility as clarified by the Texas Supreme Court.{{Cite web|title=State of Texas v. Chris Hollins, No. 14-20-00627-CV (Tex.App.- Houston, Sep. 18, 2020)|url=http://search.txcourts.gov/SearchMedia.aspx?MediaVersionID=f30b7ff9-c214-43ad-9baa-796c297c04b9&coa=coa14&DT=Opinion&MediaID=dbab9558-16ff-467a-a052-1d44e1a7f410|access-date=October 5, 2020|archive-date=October 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201008144718/http://search.txcourts.gov/SearchMedia.aspx?MediaVersionID=f30b7ff9-c214-43ad-9baa-796c297c04b9&coa=coa14&DT=Opinion&MediaID=dbab9558-16ff-467a-a052-1d44e1a7f410|url-status=live}} Paxton lost in the trial court and in the intermediate court of appeals,{{Cite news|last=Lindell|first=Chuck|title=2nd court rejects Paxton bid to halt Harris County vote by mail plan|url=https://www.statesman.com/news/20200918/2nd-court-rejects-paxton-bid-to-halt-harris-county-vote-by-mail-plan|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201003130915/https://www.statesman.com/news/20200918/2nd-court-rejects-paxton-bid-to-halt-harris-county-vote-by-mail-plan|archive-date=October 3, 2020|access-date=September 20, 2020|website=Austin American-Statesman}}{{Cite news|last1=Wines|first1=Michael|last2=Corasaniti|first2=Nick|date=September 18, 2020|title=In the Most Litigated Election Ever, Early Democratic Wins but Few Clear Signals|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/18/us/2020-voting-litigation-election.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200921065551/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/18/us/2020-voting-litigation-election.html|archive-date=September 21, 2020|access-date=September 20, 2020|newspaper=The New York Times}} but the Texas Supreme Court reversed and directed the trial court to enter an injunction against Hollins.{{Cite news|last=Coleman|first=Justine|date=2020-10-07|title=Texas Supreme Court rules major county can't mail ballot applications to all voters|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/519994-texas-supreme-court-rules-county-cant-mail-ballot-applications-to-all/|access-date=2020-10-24|website=The Hill|language=en|archive-date=October 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027152344/https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/519994-texas-supreme-court-rules-county-cant-mail-ballot-applications-to-all|url-status=live}}State of Texas v. Chris Hollins, 620 S.W.3d 400 (Tex. Oct. 7, 2020) The mail-vote promotion was part and parcel of Harris County's package of innovative measures to reduce the COVID-19 infection risk of in-person voting while maximizing opportunities for all voters to participate under pandemic conditions.{{Cite news|date=2020-09-24|title=Drive-through Voting. 24-Hour Polling Places. Finger Condoms. Welcome to Election 2020 in Harris County.|url=https://www.texasmonthly.com/politics/voting-harris-county-chris-hollins/|access-date=2020-10-05|website=Texas Monthly|language=en|archive-date=October 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201003122225/https://www.texasmonthly.com/politics/voting-harris-county-chris-hollins/|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|last=York|first=Erum Salam Sam Levine in New|date=October 1, 2020|title=Outrage as Texas governor orders closure of multiple ballot drop-off sites|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/oct/01/texas-governor-greg-abbott-ballot-votes-election|access-date=October 2, 2020|issn=0261-3077|archive-date=October 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001230818/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/oct/01/texas-governor-greg-abbott-ballot-votes-election|url-status=live}} The Republican Party of Texas opposed the expansion of voting by mail and other accommodations, and filed its own legal actions seeking to stop Hollins through the court system.{{Cite news|last=Svitek|first=Patrick|date=2020-09-02|title=Texas Supreme Court Temporarily Blocks Harris County From Sending Mail-in Ballot Applications To All Its Voters|url=https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/politics/2020/09/02/381054/texas-supreme-court-temporarily-blocks-harris-county-from-sending-mail-in-ballot-applications-to-all-its-voters/|access-date=2020-10-05|publisher=KUHT |language=en-US|archive-date=October 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001221445/https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/politics/2020/09/02/381054/texas-supreme-court-temporarily-blocks-harris-county-from-sending-mail-in-ballot-applications-to-all-its-voters/|url-status=live}}

Paxton's office spent more than 22,000 hours looking for voter fraud after the 2020 election, finding only 16 cases of false addresses on registration forms out of nearly 17 million registered voters.{{Cite news|title=Texas GOP launches avalanche of bills to curtail voting|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/texas-gop-launches-avalanche-bills-curtail-voting-n1260747|access-date=2021-03-15|publisher=NBC News|language=en|archive-date=March 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210330194844/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/texas-gop-launches-avalanche-bills-curtail-voting-n1260747|url-status=live}}

On December 8, 2020, Paxton sued the states of Georgia, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania, where certified results showed President-elect Joe Biden the victor over President Donald Trump, alleging a variety of unconstitutional actions in their presidential balloting, arguments that had already been rejected in other courts. In Texas v. Pennsylvania, Paxton asked the United States Supreme Court to invalidate the states' sixty-two electoral votes, allowing Trump to be declared the winner of a second presidential term. Because the suit was cast as a dispute between states, the Supreme Court had original jurisdiction, although it often declines to hear such suits.{{cite news|last=Liptak|first=Adam|date=December 8, 2020|title=Texas files an audacious suit with the Supreme Court challenging the election results.|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/08/us/politics/texas-files-an-audacious-suit-with-the-supreme-court-challenging-the-election-results.html|access-date=9 December 2020|archive-date=December 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201209023641/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/08/us/politics/texas-files-an-audacious-suit-with-the-supreme-court-challenging-the-election-results.html|url-status=live}} There is no evidence of widespread illegal voting in the election.{{Cite news|last=Platoff|first=Emma|date=2020-12-08|title=In new lawsuit, Texas contests election results in Georgia, Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2020/12/08/texas-ken-paxton-election-georgia/|access-date=2020-12-09|website=The Texas Tribune|language=en|archive-date=December 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201209042255/https://www.texastribune.org/2020/12/08/texas-ken-paxton-election-georgia/|url-status=live}} Paxton's lawsuit included claims that had been tried unsuccessfully in other courts and shown to be false.{{Cite news|title='Publicity stunt': AGs in battleground states blast Texas counterpart for challenging Biden's win|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/publicity-stunt-ags-battleground-states-blast-texas-counterpart-challenging-biden-n1250383|access-date=2020-12-09|publisher=NBC News|language=en|archive-date=December 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201209155116/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/publicity-stunt-ags-battleground-states-blast-texas-counterpart-challenging-biden-n1250383|url-status=live}} Officials from the four states described Paxton's lawsuit as recycling false and disproven claims of irregularity.{{Cite news|last=Lindell|first=Chuck|title=Ken Paxton asks Supreme Court to block Joe Biden victory in 4 battleground states|url=https://www.statesman.com/story/news/2020/12/08/texas-ag-ken-paxton-asks-supreme-court-block-biden-wins-4-states/6489417002/|access-date=2020-12-09|website=Austin American-Statesman|language=en-US|archive-date=December 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201209165831/https://www.statesman.com/story/news/2020/12/08/texas-ag-ken-paxton-asks-supreme-court-block-biden-wins-4-states/6489417002/|url-status=live}} Trump and seventeen Republican state attorneys general filed motions to support the case, the merits of which were sharply criticized by legal experts and politicians.{{Cite news|date=December 9, 2020|title=17 states, and Trump, join Texas request for Supreme Court to overturn Biden wins in four states|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2020/12/09/trump-says-hell-join-texas-lawsuit-asking-supreme-court-to-block-62-biden-electors-from-four-states/|website=The Dallas Morning News|access-date=December 10, 2020|archive-date=December 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201209212932/https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2020/12/09/trump-says-hell-join-texas-lawsuit-asking-supreme-court-to-block-62-biden-electors-from-four-states/|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|last=Liptak|first=Adam|date=December 8, 2020|title=Texas files an audacious suit with the Supreme Court challenging the election results.|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/08/us/politics/texas-files-an-audacious-suit-with-the-supreme-court-challenging-the-election-results.html|access-date=December 9, 2020|archive-date=December 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201209023641/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/08/us/politics/texas-files-an-audacious-suit-with-the-supreme-court-challenging-the-election-results.html|url-status=live}} Election law expert Rick Hasen described the lawsuit as "the dumbest case I've ever seen filed on an emergency basis at the Supreme Court".{{Cite news|title=Trump and his GOP loyalists seek to pile on Supreme Court election challenge|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-gop-loyalists-seek-pile-supreme-court-election/story?id=74636127|access-date=2020-12-10|publisher=ABC News|language=en|archive-date=December 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201210011107/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-gop-loyalists-seek-pile-supreme-court-election/story?id=74636127|url-status=live}} Republican Senator Ben Sasse opined that the situation of Paxton initiating the lawsuit "looks like a fella begging for a pardon filed a PR stunt", in reference to Paxton's own legal issues (securities fraud charges and abuse of office allegations).{{cite news|last1=Platoff|first1=Emma|date=December 10, 2020|title=With election lawsuit, Ken Paxton — like Donald Trump — makes a Hail Mary play|work=The Texas Tribune|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2020/12/10/ken-paxton-donald-trump-election-lawsuit/|access-date=December 11, 2020|archive-date=December 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201211002915/https://www.texastribune.org/2020/12/10/ken-paxton-donald-trump-election-lawsuit/|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|last=Langford|first=Cameron|date=2019-06-19|title=Prosecutors Hit New Roadblock in Texas AG's Criminal Case|url=https://www.courthousenews.com/prosecutors-hit-new-roadblock-in-texas-ags-criminal-case/|access-date=2020-10-04|language=en-US|archive-date=October 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201008185849/https://www.courthousenews.com/prosecutors-hit-new-roadblock-in-texas-ags-criminal-case/|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|last=Lindell|first=Tony Plohetski and Chuck|title=Texas AG Ken Paxton took bribes and abused office, top aides say in call for federal investigation|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/10/03/ken-paxton-texas-ag-named-federal-investigation-request/3613450001/|access-date=2020-10-04|website=USA Today |language=en-US|archive-date=October 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201004120410/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/10/03/ken-paxton-texas-ag-named-federal-investigation-request/3613450001/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last1=Phillips|first1=Amber|date=December 11, 2020|title=Why the Texas lawsuit to overturn the 2020 election may be the most outlandish effort yet|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/12/10/why-texas-lawsuit-overturn-2020-election-may-be-most-outlandish-effort-yet/|access-date=December 11, 2020|archive-url=https://archive.today/20201211120810/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/12/10/why-texas-lawsuit-overturn-2020-election-may-be-most-outlandish-effort-yet/|archive-date=December 11, 2020}} Paxton has called the pardon speculation "an absurdly laughable conspiracy theory" and said the lawsuit is about election integrity. The case was quickly dismissed on December 11.[https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/11/us/politics/supreme-court-election-texas.html "Supreme Court Rejects Texas Suit Seeking to Subvert Election"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201211234955/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/11/us/politics/supreme-court-election-texas.html |date=December 11, 2020 }}, The New York Times, December 11, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 20202.{{cite web|date=December 11, 2020|title=ORDER LIST: 592 U.S.|url=https://www.supremecourt.gov/orders/courtorders/121120zr_p860.pdf|access-date=December 11, 2020|publisher=Supreme Court of the United States|archive-date=December 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201211234004/https://www.supremecourt.gov/orders/courtorders/121120zr_p860.pdf|url-status=live}}

Later it was revealed that the failed suit had been drafted by Lawyers for Trump, a group connected to the Trump campaign. Several other state attorneys general turned down the offer to file the suit. Solicitor General of Texas Kyle D. Hawkins, who would ordinarily represent the state in cases before the Supreme Court, refused to let his name be attached to the suit. The Texas Attorney General hired Lawrence J. Joseph of Lawyers for Trump as special counsel for filing the suit.{{Cite news |last1=Rutenberg |first1=Jim |last2=Becker |first2=Jo |last3=Lipton |first3=Eric |last4=Haberman |first4=Maggie |last5=Martin |first5=Jonathan |last6=Rosenberg |first6=Matthew |last7=Schmidt |first7=Michael S. |date=January 31, 2021 |title=77 Days: Trump's Campaign to Subvert the Election |language=en-US |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/31/us/trump-election-lie.html |access-date=2021-11-21 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=February 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210201000107/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/31/us/trump-election-lie.html |url-status=live }}

After the failure of his lawsuit, Paxton traveled to Washington to speak at a political rally for President Trump on January 6, 2021. In his speech, Paxton told the crowd "we will not quit fighting".{{Cite news|last1=Wermund|first1=Benjamin|date=January 6, 2021|title=Ken Paxton at Trump's D.C. rally: 'We will not quit fighting|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/Paxton-Trump-DC-rally-election-2020-georgia-15850073.php|access-date=January 7, 2021|website=Houston Chronicle|archive-date=January 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210106215211/https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/Paxton-Trump-DC-rally-election-2020-georgia-15850073.php|url-status=live}} Immediately following, the crowd of Trump supporters left the rally and stormed the United States Capitol building in a riot that led to the death of five people, including a police officer.{{Cite news|last1=Freiman|first1=Jordan|date=January 7, 2021|title=4 dead after Trump supporters storm U.S. Capitol|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-supporters-us-capitol-4-dead/|access-date=January 7, 2021|publisher=CBS News|archive-date=January 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210108020659/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-supporters-us-capitol-4-dead/|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|date=January 8, 2021|title=Capitol Police officer dies from injuries suffered in riots, federal murder investigation opened|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/capitol-police-officer-dies-injuries-suffered-riots/story?id=75124131|access-date=January 8, 2021|publisher=ABC News|archive-date=January 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210108134733/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/capitol-police-officer-dies-injuries-suffered-riots/story?id=75124131|url-status=live}} In reaction to the violence and loss of life, Paxton falsely claimed that the rioters were liberal activists posing as Trump supporters.{{Cite news|last1=Platoff|first1=Emma|date=January 7, 2021|title=Ken Paxton told Trump supporters to "keep fighting". When they breached the Capitol, he falsely claimed it wasn't them.|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2021/01/07/texas-ken-paxton-trump-supporters/|access-date=January 7, 2021|website=The Texas Tribune|archive-date=January 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107230433/https://www.texastribune.org/2021/01/07/texas-ken-paxton-trump-supporters/|url-status=live}} He was the only state attorney general to not condemn the insurrection.{{Cite news|last=Sparber|first=Sami|date=January 13, 2021|title=Ken Paxton is only state attorney general in the U.S. who didn't sign letters condemning Capitol insurrection|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2021/01/13/texas-ken-paxton-capitol-riot/|website=The Texas Tribune|access-date=January 17, 2021|archive-date=January 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210117000021/https://www.texastribune.org/2021/01/13/texas-ken-paxton-capitol-riot/|url-status=live}}

In early 2021, Paxton's office refused to provide his work emails and text messages he sent or received while in Washington on January 6, after several Texas news organizations requested them in accordance with the state's open records law. In January 2022, the Travis County district attorney gave Paxton four days to comply or face a lawsuit.{{cite news |title=AG Ken Paxton must turn over Trump rally records or face lawsuit, Travis County DA says |url=https://www.statesman.com/story/news/2022/01/14/ken-paxton-violated-open-records-law-trump-rally-jan-6-capitol/6519712001/ |agency=The Dallas Morning News and Houston Chronicle |work=Austin American-Statesman |date=January 13, 2022 |author1=Lauren McGaughy |author2=John Tedesco |author3=Jay Root |access-date=January 15, 2022 |archive-date=January 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220115001450/https://www.statesman.com/story/news/2022/01/14/ken-paxton-violated-open-records-law-trump-rally-jan-6-capitol/6519712001/ |url-status=live }}

In October 2021, Paxton falsely claimed that Biden "overthrew" Trump in the 2020 election.{{Cite news|date=2021-10-22|title=Texas attorney general Ken Paxton says 'overthrow' put Joe Biden in White House instead of Trump|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2021/10/21/texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton-says-overthrow-put-joe-biden-in-white-house-instead-of-trump/|access-date=2021-10-22|website=The Dallas Morning News|language=en|archive-date=October 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211022025513/https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2021/10/21/texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton-says-overthrow-put-joe-biden-in-white-house-instead-of-trump/|url-status=live}}

In 2024, a unit created by Paxton raided the offices of Latino voting activists, seizing cellphones, computers and documents as part of a voter fraud inquiry. The League of United Latin American Citizens, known as LULAC, described the raids as an attempt to suppress Latino voters.{{Cite news |last=Sandoval |first=Edgar |date=2024-08-26 |title=Latino Civil Rights Group Demands Inquiry Into Texas Voter Fraud Raids |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/25/us/texas-latinos-democrats-raids-paxton.html |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}

Paxton "has often criticized what he calls anti-Christian discrimination in Texas schools".Selk, Avi, [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2017/03/19/texas-officials-are-investigating-a-high-schools-prayer-room-for-muslims/ "The Texas AG sued to keep a Bible quote in school. Now he's troubled by Muslim prayers."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170319195254/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2017/03/19/texas-officials-are-investigating-a-high-schools-prayer-room-for-muslims/ |date=March 19, 2017}}, The Washington Post (March 19, 2017). In 2015, Paxton opposed an atheist group's legal action seeking a halt to the reading of religious prayers before school board meetings. In December 2016, Paxton gained attention after intervening in a dispute in Killeen, Texas, in which a middle school principal told a nurse's aide to take down a six-foot poster in the school containing a quote from Christian scripture. Paxton sided with the aide, who won in court.

In early 2017 Paxton objected to a Texas school's use of an empty classroom to allow its Muslim students to pray, issuing a press release that claimed that "the high school's prayer room is ... apparently excluding students of other faiths." School officials said that Paxton had never asked them about this assertion, and that the room was a spare room used by faculty and non-Muslim students as well as for multiple activities, from grading papers to Buddhist meditation. The Frisco Independent School District superintendent, in a letter sent in response to Paxton, called his press release "a publicity stunt by the [Office of Attorney General] to politicize a nonissue".Valerie Wigglesworth, [https://www.dallasnews.com/news/frisco/2017/03/17/texas-ags-office-raises-concerns-prayer-room-friscos-liberty-high-school "Texas AG's concerns over legality of Frisco high school's prayer room called 'publicity stunt' by school district"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170327063910/http://www.dallasnews.com/news/frisco/2017/03/17/texas-ags-office-raises-concerns-prayer-room-friscos-liberty-high-school |date=March 27, 2017}}, Dallas Morning News (March 17, 2017).[http://www.fox5atlanta.com/national-news/242751170-story "School refutes Texas AG's concerns over Muslim prayer room"]{{Dead link|date=October 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}, Associated Press (March 17, 2017).

In 2023, Paxton sued the federal government in Texas v. Garland, asserting that $1.7 trillion federal spending law passed by Congress for fiscal year 2023 is invalid because of the lack of a physical quorum in the U.S. House of Representatives at the time of the bill's passage. Paxton argued that the House's decision in 2020 to allow the use of proxy voting during the COVID-19 pandemic was unconstitutional.{{Cite web |last=Millhiser |first=Ian |date=February 26, 2023|title=Texas asks a Trump judge to declare most of the federal government unconstitutional |url=https://www.vox.com/politics/2023/2/26/23611826/texas-trump-judge-hendrix-government-shutdown-proxy-voting-omnibus-supreme-cour|website=Vox |language=en}}Nate Raymond, [https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/biden-administration-accuses-texas-judge-shopping-spending-law-case-2023-02-28 "Biden administration accuses Texas of 'judge shopping' spending law case"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230330141712/https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/biden-administration-accuses-texas-judge-shopping-spending-law-case-2023-02-28/ |date=March 30, 2023 }}, Reuters (February 28, 2023). A similar lawsuit, McCarthy v. Pelosi, had already been rejected by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, and the U.S. Supreme Court declined to review that decision.

{{Infobox impeachment process

| title = Impeachment of Ken Paxton

| image =

| image_size =

| caption =

| accused = Ken Paxton

| proponents =

| period =

| start = {{Start date|2023|05|27}}

| end = {{End date|2023|09|16}}

| outcome = Acquitted

| accusations = 20 articles of impeachment

| cause =

| header_votes =

| vote1 =

| accusation1 =

| votes_favor1 =

| votes_against1 =

| present1 =

| not_voting1 =

| result1 =

| notes =

}}

In late February 2023, Paxton asked the Appropriations subcommittee of the Texas House of Representatives to provide more taxpayer funds to his office, including the full amount of the intended $3.3 million settlement of the lawsuit brought by whistleblowers from his office.{{cite news |last1=Griswold |first1=Niki |title=AG Ken Paxton asks House committee to fund $3.3 million whistleblower settlement |url=https://www.statesman.com/story/news/politics/state/2023/02/21/whistleblower-settlement-texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton-house-budget-dade-phelan/69927554007/ |access-date=May 26, 2023 |work=Austin American-Statesman |date=February 21, 2023 |archive-date=March 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307021456/https://www.statesman.com/story/news/politics/state/2023/02/21/whistleblower-settlement-texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton-house-budget-dade-phelan/69927554007/ |url-status=live }} In March 2023, the Texas House General Investigating Committee began to investigate Paxton.{{cite news |last1=Zheng |first1=Lili |title=House Investigators Reveal Findings of Probe Into AG Ken Paxton, Alleges Years of Misconduct |url=https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/texas-news/house-investigators-reveal-findings-of-probe-into-ag-ken-paxton-alleges-years-of-misconduct/3264340/ |access-date=May 26, 2023 |publisher=KXAS-TV |date=May 24, 2023 |archive-date=May 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230526024529/https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/texas-news/house-investigators-reveal-findings-of-probe-into-ag-ken-paxton-alleges-years-of-misconduct/3264340/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Autullo |first1=Ryan |last2=Moritz |first2=John |title=House panel hears details of complaints against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton |url=https://www.statesman.com/story/news/state/2023/05/24/ken-paxton-investigation-texas-house-committee-whistleblowers-many-staff-feared-reprisals/70253402007/ |access-date=May 26, 2023 |work=Austin American-Statesman |date=May 24, 2023 |archive-date=May 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230525102012/https://www.statesman.com/story/news/state/2023/05/24/ken-paxton-investigation-texas-house-committee-whistleblowers-many-staff-feared-reprisals/70253402007/ |url-status=live }} The committee in May 2023 stated that "Paxton's own request for taxpayer-funded settlement over his wrongful conduct" triggered the investigation for impeachment.{{cite news |last1=Plohetski |first1=Tony |title=How a $3.3M settlement against Texas AG Ken Paxton put him on path to impeachment vote |url=https://www.statesman.com/story/news/state/2023/05/27/texas-ag-ken-paxtons-3-million-whistleblowers-settlement-request-led-to-impeachment/70263101007/ |access-date=May 28, 2023 |work=Austin American-Statesman |date=May 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230528021434/https://www.statesman.com/story/news/state/2023/05/27/texas-ag-ken-paxtons-3-million-whistleblowers-settlement-request-led-to-impeachment/70263101007/ |archive-date=May 28, 2023}} A spokeswoman for Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan concurred, stating in May 2023 that it was due to Paxton demanding taxpayer funds for the settlement "without providing sufficient information or evidence in support of his request".

On May 23, 2023, on the eve of the committee's public release of its report, Paxton accused Phelan of performing his Texas Speaker duties the week prior in a "state of apparent debilitating intoxication"; demanded that Phelan resign; and demanded that the House General Investigating Committee investigate Phelan. In response, Phelan said that Paxton's statement was "little more than a last ditch effort to save face" given the investigation into Paxton.{{cite news |last1=Fink |first1=Jack |title=Paxton Calls For Speaker Phelan To Resign Amid Texas House Investigation Into AG |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/texas-ag-ken-paxton-calls-on-house-speaker-dade-phelan-to-resign/ |access-date=May 26, 2023 |publisher=CBS News |date=May 23, 2023 |archive-date=May 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230526003758/https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/texas-ag-ken-paxton-calls-on-house-speaker-dade-phelan-to-resign/ |url-status=live }}Scott Lawrence, [https://kfdm.com/news/local/speaker-phelans-office-paxtons-statement-is-last-ditch-effort-to-save-face "Speaker Phelan's office: Paxton's statement is 'last ditch effort to save face'"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230525100050/https://kfdm.com/news/local/speaker-phelans-office-paxtons-statement-is-last-ditch-effort-to-save-face |date=May 25, 2023 }}, KFDM (May 23, 2023).{{cite news |title=AG Paxton calls for Texas Speaker Dade Phelan to resign, accuses him of being drunk on House floor |url=https://www.fox4news.com/news/dade-phelan-drunk-video-accusations |access-date=May 26, 2023 |publisher=KDFW |date=May 23, 2023 |archive-date=May 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230526161230/https://www.fox4news.com/news/dade-phelan-drunk-video-accusations |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Autullo |first1=Ryan |title=Dueling probes: A Texas House body vs. the Attorney General. Here's what we know |url=https://www.statesman.com/story/news/politics/state/2023/05/23/texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton-subpoena-texas-house-committee-speaker-dade-phelan/70250007007/ |access-date=May 26, 2023 |work=Austin American-Statesman |date=May 23, 2023 |archive-date=May 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230527071150/https://www.statesman.com/story/news/politics/state/2023/05/23/texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton-subpoena-texas-house-committee-speaker-dade-phelan/70250007007/ |url-status=live }}

Later that day, the House General Investigating Committee revealed to the public its months-long investigation of Paxton, and also subpoenaed Paxton and his office. The following day, investigators testified to their conclusions regarding Paxton to the General Investigating Committee, alleging that he had committed various crimes, including felonies, while in office.{{cite news |last1=Weber |first1=Paul |last2=Bleiberg |first2=Jake |title=Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton likely broke laws, Republican investigation finds |url=https://apnews.com/article/texas-ken-paxton-investigation-40ba70a33235eda9a31fc2628cbd7d61 |access-date=May 26, 2023 |publisher=Associated Press |date=May 25, 2023 |archive-date=May 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230526015043/https://apnews.com/article/texas-ken-paxton-investigation-40ba70a33235eda9a31fc2628cbd7d61 |url-status=live }} Paxton dismissed the investigators, claiming it was conducted by "highly partisan Democrat lawyers"; the investigative team had in fact served as prosecutors for both Republican and Democratic administrations, and collectively, had contributed "several times more money to Republicans than to Democrats" over the preceding ten years.{{cite news |last1=Nguyen |first1=Alex |last2=Astudillo |first2=Carla |title=Ken Paxton dismissed House investigators as partisan Democrats. Their backgrounds suggest otherwise. |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/24/ken-paxton-investigation-democrats-lawyers/ |access-date=May 26, 2023 |work=The Texas Tribune |date=May 24, 2023 |archive-date=May 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230526015507/https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/24/ken-paxton-investigation-democrats-lawyers/ |url-status=live }}

On May 25, 2023, the Republican-led House General Investigating Committee unanimously recommended that Paxton be impeached.{{cite news |date=March 25, 2023 |last1=Pequeño |first1=Antonio |title=Texas House Committee Recommends Impeaching Attorney General Ken Paxton |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoniopequenoiv/2023/05/25/texas-house-committee-recommends-impeaching-attorney-general-ken-paxton/ |access-date=May 26, 2023 |work=Forbes |archive-date=May 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230525224752/https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoniopequenoiv/2023/05/25/texas-house-committee-recommends-impeaching-attorney-general-ken-paxton/ |url-status=live }} The committee filed 20 articles of impeachment, with the committee's investigation producing the following allegations:{{refn|{{cite news |title=A look at the 20 articles of impeachment against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton |url=https://apnews.com/article/texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton-impeachment-articles-3d2ed180564d8c52cf4cd643a073e3a6 |access-date=May 27, 2023 |publisher=Associated Press |date=May 26, 2023 |archive-date=May 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230526220324/https://apnews.com/article/texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton-impeachment-articles-3d2ed180564d8c52cf4cd643a073e3a6 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Stark |first1=Sam |last2=Chandler |first2=Ryan |title=What do the 20 Articles of Impeachment against Ken Paxton mean? |url=https://www.kxan.com/news/texas-politics/what-do-the-20-articles-against-ken-paxton-mean/ |access-date=May 27, 2023 |publisher=KXAN |date=May 26, 2023 |archive-date=May 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230527001639/https://www.kxan.com/news/texas-politics/what-do-the-20-articles-against-ken-paxton-mean/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Lindell |first1=Chuck |last2=Barragán |first2=James |title=Here are the 20 articles of impeachment filed against Ken Paxton |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/25/ken-paxton-20-articles-impeachment/ |access-date=May 27, 2023 |work=The Texas Tribune |date=May 25, 2023 |archive-date=May 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230526233624/https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/25/ken-paxton-20-articles-impeachment/ |url-status=live }}}}

1. Paxton ignored his official duty to protect charities when he directed his office to interfere in the Mitte Foundation charity's lawsuit against Nate Paul, a political donor to Paxton.
2. Paxton abused his official power to issue written legal opinions when he directed his office to write an opinion to prevent Paul's properties from being sold in foreclosure, and also had his office reverse their legal conclusions, in an attempt to benefit Paul. To cover up his direction, Paxton arranged for a Senate committee chairperson to seek the above opinion.{{efn|The committee chairperson discussed in Article 2 is Republican state senator Bryan Hughes, whom the House General Investigating Committee characterized as a "straw requestor".}}
3. Paxton abused his official power by directing his office to violate the law regarding two public information requests, one of which concerned Department of Public Safety records for a criminal investigation of Paul.
4. Paxton abused his official power to improperly obtain private information in an attempt to release it for Paul's benefit.
5. Paxton abused his official power by hiring a special prosecutor, Brandon Cammack, to investigate a "baseless complaint" made by Paul; Cammack would issue over 30 grand jury subpoenas to benefit Paul.
6. Paxton ignored his official duty by improperly firing whistleblowers in his office who had in "good faith" alleged to authorities that Paxton had broken the law; Paxton also privately and publicly tried to tarnish the whistleblowers' reputations and harm their chances of future employment.
7. Paxton wrongly used public resources by having his office conduct a "sham investigation" into the whistleblowers' allegations, and having his office create a report "containing false or misleading statements in Paxton's defense".
8. Paxton abused his official power in his attempt to settle the whistleblowers' lawsuit, which "delayed the discovery of facts and testimony at trial, to Paxton's advantage", preventing voters from gaining knowledge regarding Paxton.
9. Paxton accepted a bribe by Paul's employment of a woman "with whom Paxton was having an extramarital affair", and in return Paxton used his office to help Paul.
10. Paxton accepted a bribe by having Paul (a real estate developer) renovate Paxton's home, and in return Paxton used his office to help Paul.
11. Paxton obstructed justice by delaying his trial for federal securities fraud after being indicted in 2015, preventing voters from gaining knowledge regarding Paxton.
12. Paxton obstructed justice by benefiting from a lawsuit filed by his political donor, Jeff Blackard, that caused problems in paying the prosecutors working on Paxton's securities fraud case, delaying the trial and discovery of evidence, preventing voters from gaining knowledge regarding Paxton.
13. Paxton made false statements to the State Securities Board regarding his illegal failure to register with them.
14. Paxton did not accurately reveal his financial interests to the Texas Ethics Commission, violating law.
15. Paxton made or directed for multiple false or misleading statements to be published in his office's report responding to the whistleblower allegations.
16. Paxton conspired or tried to conspire with other people for the actions detailed in the articles of impeachment.
17. Paxton abused his official power by having his office act to benefit him or other people.
18. Paxton ignored his duty and violated the Texas Constitution, his oaths of office, statutes and public policy for the actions detailed in the articles of impeachment.
19. Paxton was unfit for holding office for the actions detailed in the articles of impeachment.
20. Paxton abused or neglected his official power to prevent lawful governance and obstruct justice, bringing his office into "scandal and disrepute" for the actions detailed in the articles of impeachment.

Paxton was impeached on May 27, 2023, after the Texas House voted 121–23 in favor, fulfilling the needed majority for impeachment. Sixty Republicans and sixty-one Democrats voted to impeach; all twenty-three who voted against were Republicans.{{cite news |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230527221602/https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2023/05/27/texas-impeachment-paxton-attorney-general-vote/ |archive-date=May 27, 2023 |last1=Hennessy-Fiske |first1=Molly |title=Texas House impeaches Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2023/05/27/texas-impeachment-paxton-attorney-general-vote/ |access-date=May 28, 2023 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=May 27, 2023}}{{cite news |last1=Autullo |first1=Ryan |last2=Moritz |first2=John |title=Texas House impeaches Attorney General Ken Paxton. Senate trial awaits. |url=https://www.statesman.com/story/news/politics/state/2023/05/27/texas-house-impeaches-attorney-general-ken-paxton-senate-trial-awaits/70263591007/ |access-date=May 28, 2023 |work=Austin American-Statesman |date=May 27, 2023 |archive-date=May 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230527231329/https://www.statesman.com/story/news/politics/state/2023/05/27/texas-house-impeaches-attorney-general-ken-paxton-senate-trial-awaits/70263591007/ |url-status=live }} Paxton became only the third official and the second statewide officeholder in Texas history to be impeached, after Governor James E. Ferguson in 1917 and a district judge in 1975.{{cite news |first1=J. David |last1=Goodman |first2=James |last2=Dobbins |first3=Nicholas |last3=Bogel-Burroughs |title=Ken Paxton Is Temporarily Suspended After Texas House Vote |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/27/us/politics/ken-paxton-texas-attorney-general-impeached.html |url-access=limited |work=The New York Times |date=May 27, 2023 |access-date=May 28, 2023 |archive-date=May 28, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230528040015/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/27/us/politics/ken-paxton-texas-attorney-general-impeached.html/ |url-status=live }} Upon being impeached, Paxton was automatically suspended from office pending a trial in the Texas Senate.Acacia Coronado, Jim Vertuno and Jake Bleiberg, [https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2023/0528/Texas-AG-Paxton-impeached-suspended-from-duties-immediately "Texas AG Paxton impeached, suspended from duties immediately"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230529145227/https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2023/0528/Texas-AG-Paxton-impeached-suspended-from-duties-immediately |date=May 29, 2023 }}, Associated Press (May 28, 2023). Paxton's top aide, First Assistant Attorney General Brent Webster, became the acting attorney general,{{cite news |last1=McGaughy |first1=Lauren |last2=Morris |first2=Allie |title=Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's deputy steps up after impeachment vote, memo shows |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2023/05/27/texas-attorney-general-ken-paxtons-deputy-steps-up-after-impeachment-vote-memo-shows/ |access-date=May 28, 2023 |work=The Dallas Morning News |date=May 27, 2023 |archive-date=May 28, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230528010632/https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2023/05/27/texas-attorney-general-ken-paxtons-deputy-steps-up-after-impeachment-vote-memo-shows/ |url-status=live }} until Governor Abbott appointed John B. Scott as interim attorney general three days later.William Melhado, [https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/01/ken-paxton-suspension-salary/ Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton will not receive his $153,750 salary during suspension], Texas Tribune (June 1, 2023). Paxton was not paid his salary during his suspension.

Paxton called his impeachment a "politically motivated sham";{{cite news |last1=Cobler |first1=Nicole |title=Ken Paxton impeached in historic Texas House vote |url=https://www.axios.com/2023/05/27/texas-ag-ken-paxton-impeached |access-date=May 28, 2023 |work=Axios |date=May 27, 2023 |archive-date=May 28, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230528000225/https://www.axios.com/2023/05/27/texas-ag-ken-paxton-impeached |url-status=live }} called on his supporters to peacefully march on the state Capitol in protest; and declared that "the RINOs in the Texas Legislature are now on the same side as Joe Biden", characterizing the impeachment proceedings as an attempt to "sabotage [Texas'] legal challenges to Biden's extremist agenda".{{cite news |last1=Vertuno |first1=Jim |last2=Bleiberg |first2=Jake |title=Why Texas' GOP-controlled House wants to impeach Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton |url=https://apnews.com/article/texas-attorney-general-paxton-impeachment-explainer-15f1495d045dce8d838f9937d76d48ed |access-date=May 27, 2023 |publisher=Associated Press |date=May 27, 2023 |archive-date=May 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230526231132/https://apnews.com/article/texas-attorney-general-paxton-impeachment-explainer-15f1495d045dce8d838f9937d76d48ed |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Sessions |first1=Kennedy |title=Texas House committee recommends impeachment for AG Ken Paxton |url=https://www.chron.com/politics/article/ken-paxton-impeachment-18119517.php |access-date=May 27, 2023 |work=Houston Chronicle |date=May 25, 2023 |archive-date=May 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230525225714/https://www.chron.com/politics/article/ken-paxton-impeachment-18119517.php |url-status=live }} During the legislative session on impeachment, Texas Representative Charlie Geren, a Republican on the General Investigating Committee who is also Speaker Pro Tempore, said that "several members of this House, while on the floor of this House doing the state's business, received telephone calls from general Paxton personally, threatening them with political consequences in our next election".{{cite news |last1=Jankowski |first1=Philip |title=Paxton threatened House members with political retribution, lawmaker says at impeachment |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2023/05/27/paxton-threatened-house-members-with-political-retribution-lawmaker-says-at-impeachment-h/ |access-date=May 28, 2023 |work=The Dallas Morning News |date=May 27, 2023 |archive-date=May 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230527234636/https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2023/05/27/paxton-threatened-house-members-with-political-retribution-lawmaker-says-at-impeachment-h/ |url-status=live }}

Paxton's impeachment highlighted increasing rifts within the Texas Republican Party, which has dominated Texas politics for years.J. David Goodman, [https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/28/us/texas-republicans-ken-paxton-legislature.html ""Long Before Impeachment, G.O.P. Rifts Were Growing in Texas] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230529150025/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/28/us/texas-republicans-ken-paxton-legislature.html |date=May 29, 2023 }}, The New York Times (May 28, 2023). Republican hard-liners rallied behind Paxton after his impeachment. Former President Donald Trump, writing on his social media network Truth Social, called Paxton's impeachment "election interference"; lashed out against Speaker Phelan; and depicted the impeachment as a plot by "Radical Left Democrats" and "RINOS."{{cite news |work=Politico |last1=Ewing |first1=Giselle |title=Trump slams Texas 'RINOS' over Paxton impeachment effort |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2023/05/27/donald-trump-ken-paxton-impeachment-00099105 |access-date=May 28, 2023 |date=May 27, 2023 |archive-date=May 28, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230528004247/https://www.politico.com/news/2023/05/27/donald-trump-ken-paxton-impeachment-00099105 |url-status=live }} Trump said he would fight fellow Republicans who supported Paxton's ouster.Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs, [https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/27/us/politics/trump-paxton-impeachment.html "Trump calls impeachment proceedings against Ken Paxton 'very unfair.'"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230529155652/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/27/us/politics/trump-paxton-impeachment.html |date=May 29, 2023 }}, The New York Times (May 27, 2023). Other Republicans who rallied in support of Paxton included Trump's key allies, such as son Donald Trump Jr. and former aide Stephen Miller; Ted Cruz, one of Texas's two U.S. senators (who called the impeachment a "travesty" and praised Paxton as "a steadfast conservative AG"); and Matt Rinaldi, the state party chair.{{cite news |last1=Goldenstein |first1=Taylor |last2=Scherer |first2=Jasper |title=A defiant Ken Paxton lashes out at 'corrupt politicians' on eve of GOP-led impeachment vote |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/ken-paxton-impeachment-response-18121720.php |access-date=May 28, 2023 |work=Houston Chronicle |date=May 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230527032659/https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/ken-paxton-impeachment-response-18121720.php |archive-date=May 27, 2023}}

After the impeachment, the Texas House of Representatives appointed 12 representatives (seven Republicans and five Democrats) to serve as impeachment managers (analogous to prosecutors) at the impeachment trial in the 31-member State Senate.Dave Beaudoin, [https://news.ballotpedia.org/2023/06/06/texas-senate-appoints-committee-to-develop-rules-for-upcoming-impeachment-trial/ Texas Senate appoints committee to develop rules for upcoming impeachment trial], Ballotpedia News (June 6, 2023).Robert Downen, [https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/01/ken-paxton-impeach-rusty-hardin-dick-deguerin/ House impeachment team taps 2 top Texas lawyers, Dick DeGuerin and Rusty Hardin, to lead Ken Paxton case], Texas Tribune (June 1, 2023). Of the dozen selected, eleven have law degrees.Robert Downen & Alejandro Serrano, [https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/01/ken-paxton-impeachment-house-managers/ Meet the Texas House impeachment managers who are taking aim at Ken Paxton], Texas Tribune (June 1, 2023). The group of impeachment managers was led by Republican Representative Andrew Murr (as chair) and Democratic Representative Ann Johnson (as vice chair). The House Committee on General Investigating also hired high-profile Texas attorneys Rusty Hardin and Dick DeGuerin as impeachment prosecutors.{{Cite web |date=June 1, 2023 |title=Texas House announces lawyers who will present case against AG Ken Paxton in Senate impeachment trial |url=https://www.khou.com/article/news/politics/ken-paxton-impeachment-rusty-harden-dick-deguierin/285-54799838-8cf7-49ca-ba83-21c94e8aef74 |access-date=2023-06-03 |website=khou.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=June 1, 2023 |title=Houston-based attorneys to represent Texas House in AG Paxton's impeachment trial |url=https://www.kvue.com/video/news/local/texas/houston-based-attorneys-to-represent-texas-house-in-ag-paxtons-impeachment-trial/285-e1faa367-1bb9-48b5-8390-2b62520e6f32 |access-date=2023-06-03 |website=kvue.com |language=en-US}} Paxton's main defense lawyer is Tony Buzbee.Brad Brooks, [https://www.reuters.com/world/us/texas-attorney-general-paxton-could-lose-his-job-impeachment-trial-2023-09-05/ Prosecution urges conviction in impeachment trial of Texas Attorney General Paxton], Reuters (September 5, 2023).

The Senate appointed a committee to recommend rules and procedures for the impeachment trial to the full Senate, and the committee reported on June 20.{{cite news |last1=Falconer |first1=Rebecca |title=Texas Senate sets date for AG Ken Paxton's impeachment trial |url=https://www.axios.com/2023/05/30/ken-paxton-senate-impeachment-trial-date-set |access-date=May 30, 2023 |work=Axios |date=May 30, 2023 |archive-date=May 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230530060540/https://www.axios.com/2023/05/30/ken-paxton-senate-impeachment-trial-date-set |url-status=live }}

One of the senators was Paxton's wife, Angela Paxton. The two spouses have been involved in each other's political campaigns and careers. Angela Paxton did not say whether she would recuse herself, but the Senate voted on June 21, 2023, to bar her from voting in her husband's impeachment trial.{{Cite web |date=2023-06-22 |title=Texas Sen. Angela Paxton barred from voting in husband's impeachment trial |url=https://apnews.com/article/ken-paxton-impeachment-texas-967ca4a1ad9e6efbb6293d70717fe450 |access-date=2023-09-04 |website=AP News |language=en}}Ryan Chandler, [https://www.kxan.com/news/texas/cash-connections-and-conflicts-of-interest-precede-paxton-impeachment-trial/ Cash, connections, and conflicts of interest precede Paxton impeachment trial], Nexstar Media Group (September 3, 2023). However, Angela Paxton was still required to attend the trial; because conviction and removal from office requires a two-thirds vote, her presence made it more difficult to remove her husband.

Republican Dan Patrick, as lieutenant governor, presided over the trial despite having donated $125,000, and lent another $125,000, to Paxton's close reelection campaign in 2018.Patrick Svitek, [https://www.texastribune.org/2023/08/30/dan-patrick-ken-paxton-impeachment-trial-texas/ For Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Ken Paxton's impeachment trial is a legacy-defining test], Texas Tribune (August 30, 2023). In June 2023, a few months before the trial, the pro-Paxton "Defend Texas Liberty" gave a $1 million contribution and a $2 million loan to Patrick's campaign (Patrick is not up for reelection until 2026).Patrick Svitek, [https://www.texastribune.org/2023/07/18/ken-paxton-impeachment-dan-patrick/ Pro-Paxton group gives $3 million to impeachment trial judge Dan Patrick], Texas Tribune (July 18, 2023). A few days before the trial began, Patrick selected Lana Myers, a retired Fifth Court of Appeals of Texas judge, to serve as his legal counsel during the trial.Robert T. Garrett, [https://www.dallasnews.com/news/2023/08/28/lt-gov-patrick-taps-retired-dallas-judge-lana-myers-to-help-in-paxton-impeachment-trial/ t. Gov. Patrick taps retired Dallas judge Lana Myers to help in Paxton impeachment trial], Dallas Morning News (August 28, 2023).

At least two Republican senators had conflicts of interest or financial connections with Paxton. A legal opinion requested by Republican senator Bryan Hughes at Paxton's behest was central to the second article of impeachment. Under normal Texas rules of court procedure, a material witness may not serve as a juror.{{cite news |last1=Jankowski |first1=Philip |title=Paxton impeachment leads lawmakers into uncharted legal grounds |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2023/05/26/paxton-impeachment-leads-lawmakers-into-uncharted-legal-grounds/ |access-date=May 29, 2023 |work=The Dallas Morning News |url-access=limited |date=May 26, 2023 |archive-date=May 28, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230528102056/https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2023/05/26/paxton-impeachment-leads-lawmakers-into-uncharted-legal-grounds/ |url-status=live }} Hughes was on list of witnesses whom the prosecutors intend to call to testify during the impeachment trial. Senator Donna Campbell, Republican of New Braunfels, also formerly employed the woman who allegedly had an extramarital affair with Paxton; the woman was also on the list of expected witnesses.Lauren McGaughy, [https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2023/08/02/identity-of-woman-in-alleged-paxton-affair-revealed-raising-impeachment-conflict-concerns/ Impeachment conflict raised after woman in alleged Paxton affair named], Dallas Morning News (August 2, 2023).

The impeachment trial began on September 5, 2023, in the Texas Senate, in which there were 19 Republicans and 12 Democrats.Caroline Linton, [https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ken-paxton-impeachment-trial-texas-attorney-general/ Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton pleads not guilty in first day of impeachment trial. Here's what to know], CBS News (September 5, 2023). On the first day of the trial, Paxton entered a plea of "not guilty" and both sides delivered opening statements.{{cite news |last1=Bradner |first1=Eric |last2=Killough |first2=Ashley |date=5 September 2023 |title=Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton pleads not guilty to impeachment charges |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/05/politics/paxton-impeachment-first-day/index.html |work=CNN |access-date=18 June 2024}} The Senate voted down, 24–6, Paxton's motion to dismiss all the charges; other motions to dismiss individual counts were also rejected.

On September 16, 2023, Paxton's impeachment trial concluded with 16 Republican state senators voting to acquit Paxton on every article of impeachment, ensuring that Paxton was acquitted in the Texas Senate of all articles of impeachment. All 12 Democratic senators, plus two Republican senators (Kelly Hancock and Robert Nichols) voted to convict Paxton on at least one article of impeachment, short of the 21 senators needed to convict.{{cite news |last1=Scherer |first1=Jasper |title=How did AG Ken Paxton's fellow Republicans vote in his impeachment trial? |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/gop-senators-paxton-impeachment-18370591.php |access-date=September 17, 2023 |work=Houston Chronicle |date=September 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230916203353/https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/gop-senators-paxton-impeachment-18370591.php |archive-date=September 16, 2023}} The acquittal cleared the path for Paxton to resume his duties as attorney general.{{cite news |last1=Weber |first1=Paul J. |last2=Lozano |first2=Juan A. |date=17 September 2023 |title=Texas AG Ken Paxton is back on job after acquittal but Republicans aren't done attacking each other |url=https://apnews.com/article/ken-paxton-impeachment-acquitted-texas-2b2fae98e0552b4e1da554c0752b9ddd |work=Associated Press |access-date=18 June 2024}}{{cite news |last1=Adkinson |first1=Michael |title=Ken Paxton returning to job as Texas attorney general after historic impeachment trial |url=https://kmph.com/news/nation-world/ken-paxton-returning-to-job-as-texas-attorney-general-after-historic-impeachment-trial-acquittal-lt-gov-dan-patrick-verdict-reached-jury-deliberations-impeachment-articles |access-date=September 17, 2023 |work=KEYE |date=September 17, 2023}}

On January 1, 2024, Paxton and his wife Angela Paxton said their home had been subject to a prank police report, a crime known as swatting, while they were not home. Police confirmed they had been called. The Paxtons also said their home address had been improperly released (doxxed). The incident occurred during the 2023 swatting of American politicians when public servants and politicians around the U.S. reported swatting incidents.{{Cite news |date=January 3, 2024 |first1=Krista |last1=Summerville |first2=Ryan |last2=Osborne |title=Texas AG Ken Paxton, wife Angela say their North Texas home was targeted in 'swatting' incident |url=https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton-targeted-swatting-mckinney-angela-paxton/287-5c78d01b-b214-468d-87e0-4202ea93a7a5 |access-date=2024-01-06 |work=WFAA-TV |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |last=Hartley |first=James |date=January 3, 2024 |title=AG Ken Paxton says his McKinney home was targeted in 'swatting' 911 call on New Year's Day |url=https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/crime/article283796038.html |access-date=2024-01-06 |work=Fort Worth Star-Telegram}}

On July 28, 2015, a state grand jury indicted Paxton on three criminal charges:{{cite news|last1=Herskovitz|first1=Jon|last2=Whitcomb|first2=Dan|title=Texas attorney general indicted by grand jury on fraud charges: reports|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-texas-paxton-idUSKCN0Q63EW20150801|publisher=Reuters|date=August 1, 2015|access-date=July 2, 2017|archive-date=June 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170609232155/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-texas-paxton-idUSKCN0Q63EW20150801|url-status=live}} two counts of securities fraud (a first-degree felony) and one count of failing to register with state securities regulators (a third-degree felony).{{cite news|url=https://www.statesman.com/news/20170417/ken-paxton-trial-to-begin-in-september-judge-says/|title=Ken Paxton trial to begin in September, judge says|last1=Lindell|first1=Chuck|date=April 12, 2017|access-date=April 13, 2017|newspaper=Austin American Statesman|archive-date=April 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170414081136/http://www.statesman.com/news/ken-paxton-trial-begin-september-judge-says/rzy1qPbioquD2bZ00bGNSJ/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last=Weber|first=Paul J.|url=https://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2015/08/03/texas-attorney-general-charged-with-securities-fraud|title=Ken Paxton Indicted|agency=Associated Press|date=August 3, 2015|access-date=August 4, 2015|archive-date=August 21, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150821090623/http://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2015/08/03/texas-attorney-general-charged-with-securities-fraud|url-status=live}} Paxton's indictment marked the first such criminal indictment of a Texas Attorney General in thirty-two years since Texas Attorney General Jim Mattox was indicted for bribery in 1983.{{cite news|title=Grand Jury Indicts Texas Attorney General, Ken Paxton, on Felony Charges|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/02/us/grand-jury-indicts-texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton-on-felony-charges.html|work=The New York Times|date=August 1, 2015|access-date=March 2, 2017|archive-date=November 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107055630/https://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/02/us/grand-jury-indicts-texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton-on-felony-charges.html|url-status=live}} The complainants in the case are Joel Hochberg, a Florida businessman, and Byron Cook, a Republican and former member of the Texas House of Representatives.{{cite news|last1=McGaughy|first1=Lauren|title=Attorney General Ken Paxton indicted on felony fraud charges|url=http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/texas/article/Attorney-General-Ken-Paxton-indicted-on-felony-6422786.php|access-date=October 19, 2016|newspaper=Houston Chronicle|date=August 3, 2015|archive-date=October 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161020104745/http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/texas/article/Attorney-General-Ken-Paxton-indicted-on-felony-6422786.php|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last1=Lindell|first1=Chuck|title=Ken Paxton: Is his legal trouble motivated by politics?|url=https://www.statesman.com/news/20160915/ken-paxton-is-his-legal-trouble-motivated-by-politics|access-date=October 19, 2016|newspaper=Austin American-Statesman|date=July 28, 2016|archive-date=October 2, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181002020032/https://www.statesman.com/news/20160915/ken-paxton-is-his-legal-trouble-motivated-by-politics|url-status=live}} Paxton and Cook were former friends and roommates while serving together in the Texas House. Three special prosecutors were trying the state's case.{{cite news|last1=McGaughy|first1=Lauren|title=Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton headed for felony fraud trial after high court refuses his last appeal|url=http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2016/10/12/texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton-will-tried-felony-fraud-high-court-refuses-last-appeal|access-date=October 23, 2016|work=The Dallas Morning News|date=October 12, 2016|archive-date=October 22, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161022193353/http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2016/10/12/texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton-will-tried-felony-fraud-high-court-refuses-last-appeal|url-status=live}}

The state prosecution against Paxton grows out of Paxton selling shares of Servergy Inc., a technology company, to investors in 2011. Prosecutors allege that Paxton sold shares of Servergy to investors (raising $840,000) while failing to disclose that he was receiving compensation from the company in the form of 100,000 shares of stock in return. Paxton says the 100,000 shares of stock he received from Servergy's founder and CEO were a gift, and not a sales commission, and they were provided to Paxton long before the sales transactions occurred.{{cite news|url=https://www.texasmonthly.com/the-daily-post/ken-paxtons-legal-battles-explained/|title=Ken Paxton's Legal Battles, Explained|last1=Soloman|first1=Dan|date=April 12, 2016|access-date=July 8, 2016|newspaper=Texas Monthly|archive-date=July 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160720053940/http://www.texasmonthly.com/the-daily-post/ken-paxtons-legal-battles-explained/|url-status=live}}

On August 3, 2015, following the unsealing of the grand jury indictment, Paxton was arrested and booked.{{Cite news |url=http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/2015/08/dems-plan-to-rally-against-paxton-at-collin-county-courthouse-monday.html/ |title=Paxton will plead not guilty, ask for jury trial |website=The Dallas Morning News Trailblazers Blog |date=August 3, 2015 |access-date=August 4, 2015 |archive-date=August 5, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150805145246/http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/2015/08/dems-plan-to-rally-against-paxton-at-collin-county-courthouse-monday.html/ |url-status=live}} He pleaded not guilty, and has portrayed "the case against him as a political witch-hunt".Morgan Smith, [https://www.texastribune.org/2015/08/27/lead-paxton-lawyer-steps-down-during-initial-heari/ "Paxton Pleads Not Guilty; Lead Lawyer Quits Case"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170331184952/https://www.texastribune.org/2015/08/27/lead-paxton-lawyer-steps-down-during-initial-heari/ |date=March 31, 2017}}, Texas Tribune (August 27, 2015). Paxton and his supporters claim that the prosecution has its origin in a dispute among Texas Republicans, with conservatives like Paxton on one side and moderates like Cook on the other, and suggest that Cook's complaint, several years after the Servergy deal, was political payback.

Paxton unsuccessfully sought to quash the indictments.{{cite news|last1=McGaughy|first1=Lauren|title=Texas AG Ken Paxton appeals fraud case again in final attempt to quash felony indictments|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2016/08/02/texas-ag-ken-paxton-appeals-fraud-case-again-in-final-attempt-to-quash-felony-indictments/|access-date=August 25, 2016|newspaper=Dallas Morning News|date=August 2, 2016|archive-date=August 26, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160826214136/http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/headlines/20160802-texas-ag-ken-paxton-appeals-fraud-case-again-in-final-attempt-to-quash-felony-indictments.ece|url-status=live}} This challenge was rejected by the trial judge, the Fifth Court of Appeals, and the Court of Criminal Appeals, Texas' criminal court of last resort.

Paxton's trial has been delayed multiple timesCindy George and Andrea Zelinski, [https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Texas-AG-Paxton-to-stand-trial-in-December-judge-11549166.php "Texas AG Paxton to stand trial in December, judge rules"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170826031134/http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Texas-AG-Paxton-to-stand-trial-in-December-judge-11549166.php |date=August 26, 2017}}, Houston Chronicle (July 27, 2017).{{cite news|title=Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton won't go on trial for alleged crimes before Election Day experts say|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/texas-politics/2018/06/29/texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton-wont-go-trial-alleged-crimes-before-election-day-experts-say|website=The Dallas Morning News |last1=McGaughy|first1=Lauren|date=June 29, 2018|access-date=November 30, 2018|archive-date=December 1, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181201005157/https://www.dallasnews.com/news/texas-politics/2018/06/29/texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton-wont-go-trial-alleged-crimes-before-election-day-experts-say|url-status=live}} over side issues, such as the venue where the trial will take place and the amount of the special prosecutors' fees.Emma Platoff, [https://www.texastribune.org/2020/06/25/ken-paxton-criminal-case-moved/ "Criminal case against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton will return to his native Collin County, judge rules"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201004001612/https://www.texastribune.org/2020/06/25/ken-paxton-criminal-case-moved/ |date=October 4, 2020}}, Texas Tribune (June 25, 2020).Emma Platoff, [https://www.texastribune.org/2020/10/29/texas-ken-paxton-trial-collin-county/ "Houston appeals court won't let Ken Paxton criminal trial move to Collin County, for now"], Texas Tribune (October 29, 2020). In March 2017, District Judge George Gallagher, a Republican from Fort Worth, granted the prosecution's motion for a change of venue, moving the trial to Houston in Harris County. Gallagher also denied Paxton's motion to dismiss one of the charges against him because of issues which arose about the grand jury.Andrea Zelinski, [http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/article/Judge-decides-to-move-Paxton-s-trial-to-another-11040238.php "Judge decides to move Paxton's trial to another county"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170413063203/http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/article/Judge-decides-to-move-Paxton-s-trial-to-another-11040238.php |date=April 13, 2017}}, San Antonio Express-News, March 31, 2017, pp. A3–A4. In May 2017, the Fifth Court of Appeals of Texas agreed with Paxton that the transfer of Paxton's trial to Houston required assignment of the case to a new judge to replace Judge Gallagher and all orders issued by Judge Gallagher after the change of venue were voided.{{cite news|last1=Lindell|first1=Chuck|title=Appeals court backs Ken Paxton bid for new judge|url=http://www.statesman.com/news/appeals-court-backs-ken-paxton-bid-for-new-judge/e4kJLeSaZEHeaPPsCl2MOO/|access-date=May 31, 2017|newspaper=Austin American Statesman|date=May 30, 2017|archive-date=June 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170607124939/http://www.statesman.com/news/appeals-court-backs-ken-paxton-bid-for-new-judge/e4kJLeSaZEHeaPPsCl2MOO/|url-status=live}}

In November 2018, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals invalidated the trial court's order approving of payments of attorneys' fees to the special prosecutors in the case, and directed the lower court to issue payments "in accordance with an approved fee schedule", siding with county commissioners in Paxton's home county of Collin County, who had rejected the prosecutors' invoice.Patrick Svitek & Emma Platoff, [https://www.texastribune.org/2018/11/21/ken-paxton-texas-criminal-case-attorneys-fees/ "Texas Court of Criminal Appeals rules against prosecutors in Ken Paxton payment case"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190119121626/https://www.texastribune.org/2018/11/21/ken-paxton-texas-criminal-case-attorneys-fees/ |date=January 19, 2019}}, Texas Tribune (November 21, 2018). The special prosecutors in the case have suggested that if they are not paid, they could withdraw from prosecution of Paxton.Emma Platoff, [https://www.texastribune.org/2018/12/27/ken-paxton-prosecutors-texas-court-patently-absurd-result/ "In fiery filing, Ken Paxton prosecutors ask Texas court to undo 'patently absurd result' in pay case"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190322211256/https://www.texastribune.org/2018/12/27/ken-paxton-prosecutors-texas-court-patently-absurd-result/ |date=March 22, 2019}}, Texas Tribune (December 27, 2018). After the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals declined to reconsider the motion,{{cite news |last1=Platoff |first1=Emma |title=Criminal case against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton remains threatened after court upholds prosecutor pay decision |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2019/06/19/court-criminal-appeals-upholds-paxton-prosecutor-pay-threaten-case/ |access-date=July 10, 2019 |newspaper=The Texas Tribune |date=June 19, 2019 |archive-date=July 10, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190710190738/https://www.texastribune.org/2019/06/19/court-criminal-appeals-upholds-paxton-prosecutor-pay-threaten-case/ |url-status=live}} one of three prosecutors pursuing criminal charges against Paxton asked to step down from the case.{{cite news |last1=McGaughy |first1=Lauren |title=Special prosecutor asks to step down from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's case |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/news/texas-politics/2019/07/01/special-prosecutor-steps-texas-ag-ken-paxton-case |access-date=July 10, 2019 |newspaper=Dallas Morning News |date=July 1, 2019 |archive-date=July 10, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190710190938/https://www.dallasnews.com/news/texas-politics/2019/07/01/special-prosecutor-steps-texas-ag-ken-paxton-case |url-status=live}}

Paxton filed a motion to move the case from Harris County to his native Collin County, in 2019.{{cite news |last=Goldenstein |first=Taylor |date=July 26, 2019 |title=Indicted AG Ken Paxton seeks to move his criminal case to his home turf |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/politics/texas/article/Indicted-AG-Ken-Paxton-seeks-to-move-his-criminal-14155510.php |work=Houston Chronicle |access-date=August 22, 2019 |archive-date=August 23, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190823013105/https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/politics/texas/article/Indicted-AG-Ken-Paxton-seeks-to-move-his-criminal-14155510.php |url-status=live}} The trial court granted the motion, and in rulings in 2021, the 1st Court of Appeals in Houston agreed.{{Cite news|last=Oxner|first=Reese|date=2021-05-27|title=Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's criminal case to be heard in Collin County, appeals court rules|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2021/05/27/texas-court-ken-paxton/|access-date=2021-07-21|website=The Texas Tribune|language=en|archive-date=July 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210721194230/https://www.texastribune.org/2021/05/27/texas-court-ken-paxton/|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|title=Ken Paxton's criminal case can be heard in his hometown of Collin County, after appeals court refuses to reconsider|url=https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/texas/ken-paxton-criminal-case-can-be-heard-collin-county-appeals-court-refuses-reconsider/287-994a740d-d578-4fb9-a7c9-2836f25bcd10|access-date=2021-09-21|publisher=WFAA|date=September 9, 2021|language=en-US|archive-date=September 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210921173836/https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/texas/ken-paxton-criminal-case-can-be-heard-collin-county-appeals-court-refuses-reconsider/287-994a740d-d578-4fb9-a7c9-2836f25bcd10|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|last=Lindell|first=Chuck|title=AG Ken Paxton's criminal trial should return to his home county, appeals court says, again|url=https://www.statesman.com/story/news/2021/09/09/texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton-criminal-trial-back-collin-county-appeals-court-says/8256626002/|access-date=2021-09-21|website=Austin American-Statesman|language=en-US|archive-date=September 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210921175422/https://www.statesman.com/story/news/2021/09/09/texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton-criminal-trial-back-collin-county-appeals-court-says/8256626002/|url-status=live}} However, in June 2023, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals sided with the prosecution, overturning the lower courts' rulings and holding (6–3) that the securities fraud case against Paxton should stay in Harris County.James Barragán, [https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/14/ken-paxton-securities-fraud-houston/ Ken Paxton's securities fraud trial will remain in Houston, court rules], Texas Tribune (June 14, 2023).

In October 2023, the Harris County District Court scheduled Paxton's trial to begin April 15, 2024.{{cite news |last=Svitek |first=Patrick |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2023/10/30/ken-paxton-securities-fraud-charges-trial/ |title=Attorney General Ken Paxton's securities fraud trial set for April 15 |work=Texas Tribune |date=October 30, 2023 |access-date=2024-03-26}}{{cite news |date=October 20, 2023 |title=Texas AG Ken Paxton's securities fraud trial set for April, more than 8 years after indictment |url=https://apnews.com/article/paxton-texas-impeachment-d07f333ddfd4aba7e673c98fe9b3c204 |access-date=2024-03-26 |publisher=Associated Press}}

On March 26, 2024, Paxton reached an agreement with the special prosecutor's office allowing him to avoid trial. Under the agreement, Paxton agreed to pay $300,000 in restitution, perform 200 hours of community service, and take 15 hours of legal ethics training. Under the agreement, Paxton was not required to admit wrongdoing in the case.{{Cite news |last=Weber |first=Paul J. |date=March 26, 2024 |title=How the criminal case against Texas AG Ken Paxton abruptly ended after nearly a decade of delays |url=https://apnews.com/article/paxton-indictment-texas-d5e57fc6cd062c995ced91e9d2542199 |access-date=2024-03-26 |work=AP News |language=en}}

In 2016, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed a civil enforcement action against Paxton in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. The SEC's complaint specifically charged Paxton with violating various provisions of the Securities Act of 1933 and various provisions (including Rule 10b-5) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 by defrauding the Servergy investors.[https://www.sec.gov/news/pressrelease/2016-65.html "SEC: Company Misled Investors About Energy-Efficient Technology"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160414182924/http://www.sec.gov/news/pressrelease/2016-65.html |date=April 14, 2016}}, Securities and Exchange Commission (press release) (April 12, 2016). Paxton denied the allegations.Martha Neil, [http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/sec_sues_texas_ag_ken_paxton_for_securities_fraud_his_lawyer_vehemently_den "SEC sues Texas AG Ken Paxton for securities fraud; his lawyer 'vehemently denies' claims"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160415152457/http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/sec_sues_texas_ag_ken_paxton_for_securities_fraud_his_lawyer_vehemently_den |date=April 15, 2016}}, ABA Journal (April 11, 2016).Chuck Lindell, [http://www.statesman.com/news/news/feds-accuse-ag-ken-paxton-of-fraud/nq3xR/ "SEC accuses Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton of fraud"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160414023504/http://www.statesman.com/news/news/feds-accuse-ag-ken-paxton-of-fraud/nq3xR/ |date=April 14, 2016}}, Austin American-Statesman (April 11, 2016).Lauren McGaughy, [http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/2016/04/texas-ag-ken-paxton-charged-with-fraud-after-federal-probe.html/ "Feds charge Texas AG Ken Paxton with fraud"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160413222053/http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/2016/04/texas-ag-ken-paxton-charged-with-fraud-after-federal-probe.html/ |date=April 13, 2016}}, Dallas Morning News (April 11, 2016). One of the defendants and Servergy itself reached a separate settlement with the SEC, agreeing to pay $260,000 in penalties.{{cite news|last1=McGaughy|first1=Lauren|title=SEC revives federal fraud case against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton|url=http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2016/10/21/secrevives-federal-fraud-case-texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton|access-date=October 23, 2016|work=The Dallas Morning News|date=October 21, 2016|archive-date=October 22, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161022135552/http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2016/10/21/secrevives-federal-fraud-case-texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton|url-status=live}}

In October 2016, U.S. District Judge Amos L. Mazzant III conditionally dismissed the complaint, finding the SEC had not alleged Paxton had any legal obligation to inform investors that he was receiving a commission, but gave the SEC two weeks to refile an amended complaint.{{cite news|last1=Korosec|first1=Tom|title=Texas Attorney General Paxton Gets SEC Fraud Suit Tossed|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2016-10-07/texas-attorney-general-paxton-gets-sec-fraud-suit-tossed|access-date=October 9, 2016|work=Bloomberg News|date=October 7, 2016|archive-date=October 8, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161008172428/http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2016-10-07/texas-attorney-general-paxton-gets-sec-fraud-suit-tossed|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last1=Svitek|first1=Patrick|title=In Ken Paxton Case, SEC Lawyers Face Skeptical Judge|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2016/09/02/paxton-sec-case-hearing/|access-date=October 20, 2016|newspaper=The Texas Tribune|date=September 2, 2016|archive-date=October 21, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161021004150/https://www.texastribune.org/2016/09/02/paxton-sec-case-hearing/|url-status=live}} The SEC refiled its securities fraud claims against Paxton, making the additional allegations that Paxton and Cook's investment club required all of its members to accept the same risks on all investments and that it specifically forbade members from making money off investments of other members.{{cite news|last1=Lindell|first1=Chuck|title=SEC revises, refiles fraud complaint against Ken Paxton|url=http://www.mystatesman.com/news/news/sec-revises-refiles-fraud-complaint-against-ken-pa/nswD4/|access-date=October 23, 2016|work=Austin American-Statesman|date=October 21, 2016|archive-date=October 23, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161023125902/http://www.mystatesman.com/news/news/sec-revises-refiles-fraud-complaint-against-ken-pa/nswD4/|url-status=live}} The SEC further alleged that Paxton did not properly disclose his Servergy ownership stake on his taxes and that he attempted to conceal the stake by at different times claiming it was his fee for legal services, that it was a gift, and that he had only received it after investing money.

In March 2017, Mazzant dismissed the civil securities fraud case, ruling that Paxton had "no plausible legal duty" to inform investors that he would earn a commission if they purchased stock in a technical company that Paxton represented.Platoff, Emma. [https://www.texastribune.org/2019/06/19/ken-paxton-criminal-case-timeline-texas-attorney-general-fraud/ "Ken Paxton's criminal trial has been pending for nearly four years. Here's a timeline of his legal drama."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190710190752/https://www.texastribune.org/2019/06/19/ken-paxton-criminal-case-timeline-texas-attorney-general-fraud/ |date=July 10, 2019}}, Texas Tribune, June 19, 2019. With the second dismissal of the case with prejudice, the SEC could not bring new action on the same claim against Paxton.Andrea Zelinski, "Paxton's SEC charge dismissed: No 'legal duty' to disclose commission, San Antonio Express-News, March 3, 2017, p. A3 The dismissal of the SEC case did not have a direct impact on the state criminal case.Lauren McGaughy, [https://www.dallasnews.com/news/texas-politics/2017/03/02/judge-tosses-civil-fraud-charges-attorney-general-ken-paxton "Judge tosses civil fraud charges against Attorney General Ken Paxton"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170520142210/https://www.dallasnews.com/news/texas-politics/2017/03/02/judge-tosses-civil-fraud-charges-attorney-general-ken-paxton |date=May 20, 2017}}, Dallas Morning News (March 2, 2017).

In October 2020, seven of Paxton's top aides published a letter to the office's director of human resources, accusing Paxton of improper influence, abuse of office, bribery and other crimes, and said they had provided information to law enforcement and asked them to investigate.{{Cite news|last=Plohetski|first=Tony |author2=Chuck Lindell |title=Top aides accuse Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton of bribery, abusing office |date=October 3, 2020 |website=Austin American-Statesman |language=en |url=https://www.statesman.com/news/20201003/top-aides-accuse-texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton-of-bribery-abusing-office |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201003235422/https://www.statesman.com/news/20201003/top-aides-accuse-texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton-of-bribery-abusing-office |archive-date=October 3, 2020 |access-date=October 3, 2020}}Dakin Andone & Chuck Johnston, [https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/04/politics/ken-paxton-texas-ag-investigation/index.html "Top aides to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton have accused him of bribery and abuse of office"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028211050/https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/04/politics/ken-paxton-texas-ag-investigation/index.html|date=October 28, 2020}}, CNN (October 4, 2020). The letter was signed by First Assistant Attorney General Jeff Mateer, and the deputy and deputy attorneys general overseeing the Office's divisions for criminal investigations, civil litigation, administration, and policy. Paxton denied misconduct and said he would not resign.{{cite news|last1=Platoff|first1=Emma|date=October 22, 2020|title=Second whistleblower fired from Texas attorney general's office after accusing Ken Paxton of bribery|website=The Texas Tribune|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2020/10/22/texas-ken-paxton-whistleblower-bribery/|url-status=live|access-date=23 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201023144548/https://www.texastribune.org/2020/10/22/texas-ken-paxton-whistleblower-bribery/|archive-date=October 23, 2020}} By the end of the month, all seven whistleblowers had left the office: three resigned, two were fired, and two were put on leave.{{Cite news|last=Platoff|first=Emily|title=All seven of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's Whistleblowers Have Resigned, Been Fired or Put On Leave|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2020/10/28/texas-ken-paxton-whistleblowers/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029035513/https://www.texastribune.org/2020/10/28/texas-ken-paxton-whistleblowers/|archive-date=October 29, 2020|access-date=October 29, 2020|work=The Texas Tribune|date=October 28, 2020|language=en-US}}

The allegations included that Paxton illegally used his office to benefit real estate developer Nate Paul, who had donated $25,000 to Paxton's 2018 campaign,{{cite news|last1=Bleiberg|first1=Jake|date=November 18, 2020|title=AP Sources: FBI is investigating Texas attorney general|publisher=Associated Press|url=https://apnews.com/article/ken-paxton-austin-texas-crime-f8413d14842d848e69cf81bb4d2e87e2|access-date=December 11, 2020|archive-date=November 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201121080045/https://apnews.com/article/ken-paxton-austin-texas-crime-f8413d14842d848e69cf81bb4d2e87e2|url-status=live}} and that Paxton advocated that Paul's company, World Class, hire a woman with whom Paxton had had an extramarital affair. Paul acknowledged employing the woman but denied that he had done so on Paxton's behalf.{{cite news|last1=Bleiberg|first1=Jake|date=November 6, 2020|title=AP sources: Texas AG's affair tied to criminal allegations|publisher=Associated Press|url=https://apnews.com/article/us-news-ken-paxton-extramarital-affairs-austin-texas-dc0c309fc829e62e5132aab56bcc686f|access-date=December 11, 2020|archive-date=December 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201210094428/https://apnews.com/article/us-news-ken-paxton-extramarital-affairs-austin-texas-dc0c309fc829e62e5132aab56bcc686f|url-status=live}}

In 2020, four of the former members of the Texas AG's Office sued the Office of the Attorney General, alleging that Paxton fired them for reporting misconduct to law enforcement, a form of illegal retaliation under the state's Whistleblower Act.Jacqueline Thomsen, [https://www.law.com/texaslawyer/2021/04/07/as-whistleblowers-keep-up-court-fight-ken-paxton-isnt-stepping-back/?slreturn=20210309182732 "As Whistleblowers Keep Up Court Fight, Ken Paxton Isn't Stepping Back"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220127115424/https://www.law.com/texaslawyer/2021/04/07/as-whistleblowers-keep-up-court-fight-ken-paxton-isnt-stepping-back/?slreturn=20210309182732 |date=January 27, 2022 }}, Texas Lawyer (April 7, 2021).Taylor Goldenstein, [https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/WHISTLEBLOWER-APPEAL-16023479.php "Ken Paxton whistleblower case can go on, appellate court rules, though appeal likely"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210421120303/https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/WHISTLEBLOWER-APPEAL-16023479.php |date=April 21, 2021 }}, Houston Chronicle (March 13, 2021). The four ex-employees—who had served as Paxton's deputy attorney general for legal counsel, deputy attorney general for criminal justice; deputy attorney general, and director of the law enforcement division—were fired several weeks after bringing their concerns to the FBI and Texas Rangers.J. David Goodman, [https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/10/us/ken-paxton-texas-settlement.html "Texas Attorney General Agrees to Give $3.3 Million and an Apology to His Former Aides"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230529160317/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/10/us/ken-paxton-texas-settlement.html |date=May 29, 2023 }}, The New York Times (February 10, 2023). In 2021, the district court denied Paxton's motion to dismiss the suit. Paxton claimed that the Whistleblower Act did not apply to allegations of misconduct by elected executive officials such as himself, and that as an elected official he must have the power to control his top lieutenants, who are high-level political appointees,{{Cite news|last=McGee|first=Kate|date=2021-06-02|title=Ken Paxton asks appeals court to toss whistleblower case brought by former top aides|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2021/06/02/ken-paxton-whistleblower-appeal/|access-date=2021-06-03|website=The Texas Tribune|language=en|archive-date=June 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603214929/https://www.texastribune.org/2021/06/02/ken-paxton-whistleblower-appeal/|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|last=Barragán|first=James|date=2021-09-22|title=Texas appellate justices appear skeptical of Attorney General Ken Paxton defense that he's exempt from state's whistleblower law|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2021/09/22/ken-paxton-whistleblower-lawsuit-appeal/|access-date=2021-09-24|website=The Texas Tribune|language=en|archive-date=September 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210924151908/https://www.texastribune.org/2021/09/22/ken-paxton-whistleblower-lawsuit-appeal/|url-status=live}} but in October 2021, the Texas Third Court of Appeals rejected his appeal, affirming the trial court's order.[https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=4828553900384620098 Office of Attorney General of Texas v. Brickman] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220524225221/https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=4828553900384620098 |date=May 24, 2022 }}, 636 S.W.3d 65 (Tex. Ct. App. 2021).{{Cite news|last=Pollock|first=Cassandra|date=2021-10-21|title=Appeals court allows whistleblower lawsuit from former employees who accused Ken Paxton of bribery to proceed|url=https://www.texastribune.org/2021/10/21/texas-ken-paxton-whistleblowers/|access-date=2021-10-22|website=The Texas Tribune|language=en|archive-date=October 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211022215822/https://www.texastribune.org/2021/10/21/texas-ken-paxton-whistleblowers/|url-status=live}}

In early February 2023, following mediation, Paxton agreed to a tentative settlement in which the whistleblowers would be paid $3.3 million.{{Cite news |last=Barragán |first=James |date=2023-02-10 |title=Attorney General Ken Paxton agrees to apologize and pay $3.3 million to whistleblowers in settlement |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2023/02/09/ken-paxton-attorney-general-settlement-whistleblower/ |access-date=2023-02-12 |website=The Texas Tribune |language=en}} Under the settlement agreement, neither side admitted fault or liability, but Paxton "accept[ed] that plaintiffs acted in a manner that they thought was right and apologizes for referring to them as 'rogue employees.'" The settlement was contingent on securing "necessary approvals for funding" from the state. Paxton then asked the state to use taxpayer funds to pay the settlement. The legislature did not approve the settlement in the 2023 session. The accusations raised by the whistleblowers—that Paxton abused power to assist a wealthy donor in exchange for possible benefits, specifically a home remodel—later led to his impeachment by the Texas House of Representatives in May 2023.

Because a May 2023 deadline passed without payment, the settlement did not come into effect. The suit moved to the Texas Supreme Court, which ruled in September 2023 that the attorney general is subject to the Whistleblower Act.{{cite news |last1=Goldenstein |first1=Taylor |title=Whistleblowers step away from $3.3M settlement with AG Ken Paxton |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/whistleblowers-pull-3-3m-settlement-ag-ken-paxton-17827776.php |access-date=May 28, 2023 |work=Houston Chronicle |date=March 8, 2023 |archive-date=March 31, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230331214539/https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/whistleblowers-pull-3-3m-settlement-ag-ken-paxton-17827776.php |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Autullo |first1=Ryan |title=Nate Paul, bribery & whistleblowers: Breaking down the investigation into Texas AG Ken Paxton |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/state/2023/05/27/texas-attorney-ken-paxton-federal-investigation-bribery/69773675007/ |access-date=May 28, 2023 |work=Austin American-Statesman |date=May 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230528015138/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/state/2023/05/27/texas-attorney-ken-paxton-federal-investigation-bribery/69773675007/?gnt-cfr=1 |archive-date=May 28, 2023}}{{Cite web |last=Svitek |first=Patrick |date=2023-09-29 |title=Lawsuit by Attorney General Ken Paxton’s accusers can continue, Texas Supreme Court rules |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/29/ken-paxton-supreme-court-whistleblower/ |access-date=2025-04-05 |website=The Texas Tribune |language=en}} On April 5, 2025, Travis County district court judge Catherine Mauzy awarded $6.6 million combined to four whistleblowers.{{Cite news |last=Lathan |first=Nadia |title=Judge awards $6.6 million to whistleblowers who reported Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to FBI |url=https://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton-wrongfully-fired-whistleblowers-judge-rules/EGEX5JBK2BGS5L5GLFBNQEIBSI/ |access-date=2025-04-05 |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |language=English |issn=1539-7459}}

Also in February 2023, the U.S. Justice Department's Public Integrity Section in Washington assumed an investigation of Paxton that had previously been managed by federal prosecutors in Texas.{{cite news |title=Justice Dept. in DC taking over Texas AG corruption probe |url=https://apnews.com/article/politics-district-of-columbia-ken-paxton-texas-crime-e3cbc749a3e5ee1f75957df8a77401f4 |publisher=Associated Press |date=February 16, 2023 |author1=Jake Bleiberg |author2=Eric Tucker |access-date=February 16, 2023 |archive-date=February 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230216231838/https://apnews.com/article/politics-district-of-columbia-ken-paxton-texas-crime-e3cbc749a3e5ee1f75957df8a77401f4 |url-status=live }}

After Paxton sought to overturn the 2020 presidential election to keep Trump in power, Galveston Democrats filed a complaint against Paxton with the State Bar of Texas, alleging that Paxton engaged in professional misconduct by raising a frivolous and unethical challenge. The Bar's chief disciplinary counsel initially dismissed the complaint, but in May 2021, that decision was reversed by the Board of Disciplinary Appeals, which found "that the grievance alleges a possible violation" of the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Misconduct and ordered the Bar to investigate.{{Cite news|last=Montgomery|first=Dave|date=2021-06-10|title=Texas Attorney General Is Being Investigated by State Bar Association|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/10/us/ken-paxton-texas-state-bar.html|access-date=2021-06-15|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=June 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210614070537/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/10/us/ken-paxton-texas-state-bar.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite news |last1=Bleiberg |first1=Jake |date=2021-06-09 |title=State bar investigating Texas attorney general |url=https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-joe-biden-us-supreme-court-texas-election-2020-071cd81a1447f17bfd115edffc4ff456 |access-date=2021-10-06 |publisher=Associated Press |language=en |archive-date=October 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211006113300/https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-joe-biden-us-supreme-court-texas-election-2020-071cd81a1447f17bfd115edffc4ff456 |url-status=live }} Similar ethics complaints against Paxton, seeking disbarment or other sanctions against him, were filed by various others,James Barragán, [https://www.texastribune.org/2022/05/25/texas-bar-ken-paxton-2020-election "Texas state bar files professional misconduct lawsuit against Ken Paxton for attempt to overturn 2020 presidential elections"], Texas Tribune (May 25, 2022). including Lawyers Defending American Democracy, whose complaint was signed by four former presidents of the State Bar of Texas and a former chair of the Texas Supreme Court grievance oversight committee.{{Cite news |last1=Lemon |first1=Jason |date=2021-07-22 |title=Ethics complaints filed against Texas AG Ken Paxton for efforts to overturn 2020 election |url=https://www.newsweek.com/ethics-complaints-filed-against-texas-ag-ken-paxton-efforts-overturn-2020-election-1612222 |access-date=2021-10-06 |work=Newsweek |language=en |archive-date=October 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211006113300/https://www.newsweek.com/ethics-complaints-filed-against-texas-ag-ken-paxton-efforts-overturn-2020-election-1612222 |url-status=live }}{{cite letter |url=https://ldad.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/DC-Ethics-Complaint-Against-Jeffrey-Clark.pdf |date=July 21, 2021 |subject=Professional Responsibility Investigation of Warren Kenneth Paxton Jr. |recipient=Seana Willing, Chief Disciplinary Counsel, State Bar of Texas |author=Lawyers Defending American Democracy |access-date=2021-10-06}}{{cite press release |date=July 21, 2021 |title=Prominent Attorneys File Extraordinary Ethics ComplaintAgainst Texas Attorney General Paxton |url=https://ldad.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Paxton-Press-Release-1.pdf |publisher=Lawyers Defending American Democracy |access-date=2021-10-06 |archive-date=October 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211006113307/https://ldad.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Paxton-Press-Release-1.pdf |url-status=live }}

In May 2022, the Bar's Commission for Lawyer Discipline sued Paxton in Collin County District Court, asking the court to find that Paxton had acted unethically in seeking to subvert the 2020 presidential election and to impose a sanction ranging from a private reprimand to disbarment. The Bar's filing said that Paxton had made numerous specific "dishonest" representations in his attempt to challenge the election results.Patrick Svitek, [https://www.texastribune.org/2022/07/25/ken-paxton-texas-bar/ "Texas AG Ken Paxton bans staff lawyers from speaking at state bar events, escalating feud sparked by 2020 election"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230527235119/https://www.texastribune.org/2022/07/25/ken-paxton-texas-bar/ |date=May 27, 2023 }}, Texas Tribune (July 25, 2022). In response to the ethics lawsuit against him, Paxton claimed that the Bar was controlled by "leftists" and opened his own investigation into the Texas Bar Foundation (which is separate from the State Bar of Texas). He also banned Texas AG's Office employees from speaking at any State Bar events. The district court denied Paxton's motion to dismiss the ethics complaint against him.Mike Scarcella & Jacqueline Thomsen, [https://www.reuters.com/world/us/judge-says-texas-attorney-general-paxton-must-face-ethics-lawsuit-2023-01-30/ "Judge says Texas Attorney General Paxton must face ethics lawsuit"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230529160640/https://www.reuters.com/world/us/judge-says-texas-attorney-general-paxton-must-face-ethics-lawsuit-2023-01-30/ |date=May 29, 2023 }}, Reuters (January 31, 2023). Paxton appealed to the Texas Fifth Court of Appeals; he argues that, as AG, he is immune from any discipline by the State Bar of Texas for filing lawsuits based on bogus factual claims.Joshua Fechter, [https://www.texastribune.org/2023/11/15/ken-paxton-texas-bar-discipline-2020-election/ Texas appeals court weighing whether state bar can discipline Ken Paxton for challenging 2020 presidential election], Texas Tribune (Nov. 15, 2023).

In August 2023, a week before Paxton's impeachment trial started in the state Senate, fourteen lawyers filed a complaint with the State Bar, seeking to prevent Paxton from practicing law. James Harrington authored the complaint, which accuses Paxton of abuse of office and other misconduct, including bribery and organized crime. Three former State Bar of Texas presidents co-signed the complaint. They are Richard Pena (1998–99), W. Frank Newton (1997–98) and William Whitehurst (1986–87).{{cite news |last= Autullo|first= Ryan|date= August 28, 2023|title= 14 lawyers seek to disbar Paxton|url= https://www.statesman.com/story/news/politics/state/2023/08/28/texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton-impeachment-trial-state-bar-lawyers-file-complaint/70702319007/|newspaper=Austin American-Statesman|access-date= September 1, 2023 }}

Paxton's wife, Angela Paxton, his closest political advisor, often opens up his events with a musical performance. She calls her husband "a very competitive person".Andrea Zelinski, "Paxton's career, life marked by beating barriers", San Antonio Express-News, December 24, 2016, pp. 1, A8. Retrieved December 27, 2016. In 2018, Angela won the District 8 seat in the Texas Senate.{{cite news |last=Ford |first=Holley |title=Republican Angela Paxton Wins Over Democrat Mark Phariss for Texas District 8 Senate Seat |url=https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/politics/Paxton-Phariss-Face-Off-for-Texas-District-8-Senate-Seat-499706151.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190929193542/https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/politics/Paxton-Phariss-Face-Off-for-Texas-District-8-Senate-Seat-499706151.html |archive-date=September 29, 2019 |access-date=December 25, 2020 |publisher=KXAS-TV}} They have four children.

Angela and Ken Paxton helped to found Stonebriar Community Church, a Christian evangelical megachurch, in Frisco, Texas, in the 1990s. The couple later joined another megachurch, Prestonwood Baptist Church.{{cite news |last1=Klibanoff |first1=Eleanor |date=2023-05-28 |title=All eyes on Sen. Angela Paxton as Texas Senate takes up her husband’s removal |url=https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/28/texas-angela-paxton/ |access-date=31 May 2023 |publisher=Texas Tribune}}

Attorney General elections

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• [https://texasattorneygeneral.gov/agency/about-texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton Texas Attorney General website]
• [http://kenpaxton.com/ Ken Paxton's website]
• {{CongLinks | congbio= | votesmart=49425 | fec= | congress= }}
• {{C-SPAN|101727}}
• Texas House of Representatives [https://house.texas.gov/_media/pdf/committees/House_Committee_on_General_Investigating_052423.pdf Committee on General Investigating public hearing transcript] – Presentation of the evidence in the matter of Warren Kenneth Paxton (proposed settlement with office of the attorney general whistleblowers and conduct related thereto) – May 24, 2023
• Texas House of Representatives [https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/88R/billtext/pdf/HR02377I.pdf Committee on General Investigating filing of articles of impeachment] against Paxton

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Category:1962 births

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