Attorney General Ken Paxton loves to represent himself as a relentless fighter in the culture wars.
But Paxton announced Thursday, Jan. 18, that he’ll stop fighting in one arena: the whistleblower lawsuit brought by his former top executives.
Why give up so easily in his own legal fight against charges of corruption?
The answer couldn’t be clearer. The one thing Paxton will go to any length to avoid is having to sit down and answer questions under oath about allegations that he accepted bribes and other benefits on behalf of Austin real estate magnate, turned federal indictee, Nate Paul.
And the Texas Supreme Court has now cleared the way for Paxton to be deposed in a lawsuit filed by Blake Brickman, Ryan Vassar, David Maxwell and Mark Penley. A judge Friday, Jan. 19, ordered that to take place Feb. 1. The four former deputies are among eight loyal Texans who sat at the pinnacle of power in state government. We named the eight our 2023 Texans of the Year for their courage in refusing to accept Paxton’s repeated attempts to put the power of the state in Paul’s hands to attack his business enemies.
Paxton abused his office repeatedly and wrongly fired the four who are now suing. Paxton tried to reach a settlement with them, but the Texas House, led by Speaker Dade Phelan, rightly refused to pay up to cover up. Instead, the House impeached Paxton in an overwhelming vote. Sadly, 16 Republican senators turned their backs on the plain facts laid out in the impeachment trial and voted to acquit.
The Texas Republican Party is now torn in two. Paxton is on the stump attacking the conservative members of the House who did what conscience and truth demanded when they impeached him.
But while he’s got plenty of time to campaign against decent Republicans, our attorney general is doing all he can to avoid being deposed about his own activities.
As State Rep. Jared Patterson — a man who couldn’t be more conservative — wrote on social media, Paxton’s pathetic attempts to duck a deposition only sing the truth of what he’s done.
“TOTAL VINDICATION,” wrote Patterson, who is among those Paxton is hounding. “Today, Attorney General Ken Paxton admitted he violated the Texas Whistleblower Act and confirmed offenses laid out in Texas House Impeachment Articles 6, 7, 8 and 15. I supposed Mr. Paxton views this total reversal as more appealing than answering questions … ”
We pray Paxton’s give-up-the-ghost tactic doesn’t work, and whistleblower attorney Tom Nesbitt has promised it won’t.
“This is but another desperate stunt by Ken Paxton to prevent the truth from coming out,” he said.
We plead with conservative Texans not to believe the nonsense that Paxton and his coterie are spouting. Look at the facts. Look at the backgrounds of the people making these accusations. Look at the bona fides of the House members who impeached him.
Don’t be like those 16 senators and our lieutenant governor. Have a mind and an eye for the truth. Texas needs you to.
The Dallas Morning News
