Texas AG Ken Paxton swapped political favors for house transform, position for alleged ‘mistress’

AUSTIN — Four former substantial rating company officers are accusing Texas Legal professional General Ken Paxton of swapping political favors for a donor’s support with a residence remodel and a career for his alleged “mistress.”

The new, more thorough allegations, to start with reported by The Texas Tribune, ended up laid out in an up to date court submitting in a whistleblower lawsuit the former staff submitted from Paxton in November. The lawsuit accuses Paxton of frequently abusing his position as the state’s top attorney to help Nate Paul, an Austin authentic estate developer and marketing campaign donor.

The 4 ex-officers reported they received data “suggesting” Paul “either individually or by means of a building organization he owns and controls” was included in a modern transform of Paxton’s house in Austin, in accordance to a duplicate of the submitting The Dallas Morning Information attained Thursday afternoon.

They also claimed Paxton assisted safe work at a single of Paul’s corporations for a girl with whom Paxton allegedly had an affair. Paxton then helped Paul, they alleged, in return for his silence or to repay him for his aid.

“That genuine estate trader was also a major donor to Paxton’s campaign, was aiding Paxton in the remodel of his personal residence, and was the employer of Paxton’s mistress. Plaintiffs moderately thought Paxton’s bizarre abuse of his office was the consequence of bribery,” the submitting said, calling Paxton’s steps an “obsessive use of the energy of his workplace.”

Paxton’s spokesman denied he did nearly anything unlawful.

“Any accusations that the Attorney General acted opposite to the legislation are wholly fake and they will be verified wrong in court,” Ian Prior explained in a statement.

Paul’s lawyer did not right away return a ask for for comment.

The new allegations, significantly of which The Information could not independently validate, offer up the most thorough theory to date about why Paxton assisted Paul even as his major aides balked at his habits.

The Information claimed previous yr that Paxton personally intervened at least four occasions on a array of lawful matters at his company that associated or assisted Paul because March 2020. Numerous senior officers objected to Paxton’s actions past tumble, reporting him to legislation enforcement for alleged abuse of business office and bribery.

The FBI is now investigating these claims, according to The Related Push.

Right after reporting Paxton’s alleged crimes, he fired the personnel, who he reported were being disloyal and who he accused of thwarting an energetic agency investigation. The staff members then submitted their lawsuit, boasting retaliation.

If they get their situation, the state could be on the hook to pay back hundreds of thousands — or even tens of millions — in shed shell out and positive aspects, lawyers charges and damages.

Paxton also faces unrelated rates of securities fraud dating back to his time as a state legislator, when a fellow Republican lawmaker alleged Paxton duped him and other folks to invest in a McKinney technologies organization without disclosing he was getting compensated by the firm’s CEO. A Collin County grand jury indicted Paxton on people expenses in 2015, months soon after he was elected legal professional general, but he has nevertheless to face trial.

Paxton confronted 3 felony expenses stemming from all those allegations. He has pleaded not responsible.