Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton Reaches Deal On Securities Charges, Ending Decade-Long Legal Case

On Tuesday, Attorney General Ken Paxton (R-TX) cut a deal with prosecutors to end the lengthy securities fraud case brought against him. The deal, made just weeks before Paxton was set to head to trial, mandates that the Texas attorney general complete 100 hours of community service, pay nearly $300,000 in restitution, and take 15 hours of legal ethics courses within the next year and a half.

In 2015, Paxton was accused of failing to disclose to investors that he had a stake in a technology company before he advised them to buy the business. Those accusations led to Paxton's charges of a third-degree and two first-degree felonies.

"Look, we are glad to have this matter behind us," Paxton lawyer Dan Cogdell said. "Today marks the end of what, in our opinion, should have happened a long time ago. That is, the state has made an offer, which we have accepted, to dismiss the case upon Mr. Paxton doing a few things. He is more than happy to comply with that agreement... I don't think any of this would happen but for the fact that he is the attorney general."

Prosecutor Brian Wice explained that the negotiated deal made Paxton "inferentially or indirectly" accept responsibility, per KUT News. The Texas attorney general did not plead guilty to any charges, nor were the charges proven in court.

"For over a decade, my family and I have been dealing with the ongoing stress of these accusations and are relieved to finally have a resolution in this matter," Paxton said in a statement. "The prosecution came to us to begin negotiations, and we were able to come to an agreement on terms. There will never be a conviction in this case, nor am I guilty. I look forward to putting this behind me. I want to thank my family, team, and supporters for sticking by my side. Dealing with a 10-year case looming over our heads was no easy task. I am glad to move on and will provide further comment in the weeks ahead."

Paxton, one of the most successful Republican attorney generals in the country, has seen several accusations brought against him in recent years, the most substantial of which resulted in a rushed impeachment in the Texas legislature last year. Despite the numerous accusations brought against him, Paxton was successful in fending off his detractors, and his success in the courtroom has translated to electoral success on the campaign trail after he was reelected to a third term in 2022.

Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick (R-TX) laid out what the deal means for the 61-year-old Paxton. "Attorney General [Ken Paxton] has suffered 9 years of political harassment instigated at the hands of his enemies in the Texas House. The actions from the Court in Houston highlighted the lack of any real evidence – the prosecution was wise to save themselves the embarrassment of a courtroom defeat."

"This bears a striking similarity to the impeachment debacle where [Ken Paxton] 's political enemies in the House fabricated a case that collapsed during trial in the Senate. Paxton should get the back pay the House took from him," Patrick explained. "The political hit squad in the Texas House failed again in their persecution of [Ken Paxton]. The failed impeachment instigated by [Dade Phelan] backfired. It seems that Dade wound up impeaching himself and several of his top House lieutenants, and the voters in his own district have found him guilty."

The end of the legal case against Paxton is a major win for the Texan, and it will allow him to continue the monumental work he has undertaken as the best legal fighter in the country against the federal government. 

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