[62] 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 has described himself as a Tea Party conservative. [43], Paxton defended Texas in a federal lawsuit involving allegations that Texas's congressional districts were gerrymandered. "[58] The Clean Power Plan would require Texas to cut an annual average of 51 million tons of emissions, down 21 percent from 2012 levels. [116] Paxton explained, "But I think the good thing about finding it, and doing a thorough job of investigation and prosecution, is at least you send the message to people that if you're going to do this, there is some risk that youre going to end up in prison for committing voter fraud. [9][10], Paxton was born on Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota where his father was stationed while in the United States Air Force. "[151] In 2015, Paxton opposed an atheist group's legal action seeking a halt to the reading of religious prayers before school board meetings. At various times, they lived in Florida, New York, North Carolina, California, and Oklahoma. 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 was again seriously injured while he was a student at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. "[41] 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. [44][45] 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. [5][6] In October 2020, several high-level assistants in Paxton's office accused him of "bribery, abuse of office and other crimes". 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. A lifelong football fan, Paxton carried a jersey autographed by Bill Bates, formerly of the Dallas Cowboys. [202][203] In October 2021, the Texas Third Court of Appeals denied Paxton's bid to have the case dismissed and affirmed the trial court's order. As a result, his good eye is green; his damaged one, brown and droopy. [91] 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. 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 won re-election against Democrat Martin Woodward in 2004. [104] In Texas it is illegal for a person to vote if they have been convicted of a felony until the completion of the sentence, probation and/or parole. 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. Johnson was chosen at random to preside. [56] 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. About | Now he's accusing them of child abuse", "Texas Has Been Investigating the Briggle Family Because of Their Trans Son. He said that the wall serves "a public purpose providing safety to people not only along the border, but to the entire nation. Instead, the official said such voters should have been required to cast provisional ballots. The lawsuit alleges that MoneyGram gave uncashed checks to the state of Delaware instead of the state where the money order or travelers check was bought. [160], Paxton's trial has been delayed multiple times[165][166] over side issues, such as the venue where the trial will take place and the amount of the special prosecutors' fees. [127], 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. Judges disagreed", "Texas files an audacious suit with the Supreme Court challenging the election results", "In new lawsuit, Texas contests election results in Georgia, Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania", "Ken Paxton asks Supreme Court to block Joe Biden victory in 4 battleground states", "17 states, and Trump, join Texas request for Supreme Court to overturn Biden wins in four states", "Trump and his GOP loyalists seek to pile on Supreme Court election challenge", "With election lawsuit, Ken Paxton like Donald Trump makes a Hail Mary play", "Prosecutors Hit New Roadblock in Texas AG's Criminal Case", "Texas AG Ken Paxton took bribes and abused office, top aides say in call for federal investigation", "Why the Texas lawsuit to overturn the 2020 election may be the most outlandish effort yet", Supreme Court Rejects Texas Suit Seeking to Subvert Election, "77 Days: Trump's Campaign to Subvert the Election", "Ken Paxton at Trump's D.C. rally: 'We will not quit fighting", "4 dead after Trump supporters storm U.S. Capitol", "Capitol Police officer dies from injuries suffered in riots, federal murder investigation opened", "Ken Paxton told Trump supporters to "keep fighting." [11] In 2018, Angela Paxton won the District 8 seat in the Texas Senate. In his speech, Paxton told the crowd "we will not quit fighting". [13], Paxton worked at Strasburger & Price, L.L.P. [77], 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. The twists and turns of how the Republican, who is on the cusp of winning the GOP nomination for a third term In February 2017, officials in Bexar County said there have been no major cases of voter fraud in San Antonio. None of those defendants were sentenced to jail time. In June 2016, a federal judge granted a preliminary injunction against the rule. [158][159] Paxton and Cook were former friends and roommates while serving together in the Texas House. In 1991, he received a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Virginia. Opponents of the rule say it will prevent employers from speaking on labor issues or seeking legal counsel. ", "Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton headed for felony fraud trial after high court refuses his last appeal", "Paxton will plead not guilty, ask for jury trial", Paxton Pleads Not Guilty; Lead Lawyer Quits Case, "Texas AG Ken Paxton appeals fraud case again in final attempt to quash felony indictments", Texas AG Paxton to stand trial in December, judge rules, "Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton won't go on trial for alleged crimes before Election Day experts say", Criminal case against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton will return to his native Collin County, judge rules, Houston appeals court won't let Ken Paxton criminal trial move to Collin County, for now, Judge decides to move Paxtons trial to another county, "Appeals court backs Ken Paxton bid for new judge", Texas Court of Criminal Appeals rules against prosecutors in Ken Paxton payment case, In fiery filing, Ken Paxton prosecutors ask Texas court to undo "patently absurd result" in pay case, "Criminal case against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton remains threatened after court upholds prosecutor pay decision", "Special prosecutor asks to step down from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's case", "Indicted AG Ken Paxton seeks to move his criminal case to his home turf", "Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's criminal case to be heard in Collin County, appeals court rules", "Lawyers prosecuting Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's fraud case challenge decision to move trial back to his home county", "Court temporarily halts transfer of Ken Paxton criminal trial from Houston", "Ken Paxton's criminal case can be heard in his hometown of Collin County, after appeals court refuses to reconsider", "AG Ken Paxton's criminal trial should return to his home county, appeals court says, again", "Texas Court of Criminal Appeals adds AG Paxton securities fraud case to docket", SEC: Company Misled Investors About Energy-Efficient Technology, SEC sues Texas AG Ken Paxton for securities fraud; his lawyer 'vehemently denies' claims, SEC accuses Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton of fraud, Feds charge Texas AG Ken Paxton with fraud, "SEC revives federal fraud case against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton", "Texas Attorney General Paxton Gets SEC Fraud Suit Tossed", "In Ken Paxton Case, SEC Lawyers Face Skeptical Judge", "SEC revises, refiles fraud complaint against Ken Paxton". [12], Paxton received a psychology degree in 1985 and a Master of Business Administration in 1986, both from Baylor University, where he was elected president of the student government. 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. Fauzeya Rahman, "State seeks Bexar records tied to possible voter fraud: AG's office cites elections last year,". [60], 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. By the end of the month, all seven whistleblowers had left the office: three resigned, two were fired, and two were put on leave. As a result, his good eye is green; his Here is Ken Paxtons Mugshot. By the end of the year, the office had closed only three cases of fraud. Heres a timeline of his legal drama. In April 2014, the Texas Tribune obtained documents showing that Paxton was soliciting clients while not being registered with the state board. [161][184][185][186] One of the defendants and Servergy itself reached a separate settlement with the SEC, agreeing to pay $260,000 in penalties. State Representative Dan Branch of Dallas County received 426,595 votes (33.5 percent). A lifelong football fan, Paxton carried a jersey autographed by Bill Bates, formerly of the Dallas Cowboys. [18] Paxton ran unopposed for re-election in 2010. 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. '"[107] According to a May 2, 2017 ProPublica article', there was no evidence of widespread voter fraud in Texas. It causes poor vision in just one look. When they breached the Capitol, he falsely claimed it wasn't them", "Ken Paxton is only state attorney general in the U.S. who didn't sign letters condemning Capitol insurrection", "AG Ken Paxton must turn over Trump rally records or face lawsuit, Travis County DA says", "Texas attorney general Ken Paxton says 'overthrow' put Joe Biden in White House instead of Trump", The Texas AG sued to keep a Bible quote in school. He has pleaded not guilty. [101], 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. [177] The decision by the panel of three judges to move Paxton's trial back to Collin County was appealed by the prosecution in June. [118] 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. In 2002, Paxton ran in the Republican primary for the Texas House in District 70. [128], 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. Along with Texas, twenty other states have joined the lawsuit. [61], U.S. Virgin Islands attorney general Claude Walker had also issued a subpoena for Exxon's records. [73] In September 2016, Paxton and his wife had dinner with activist Amber Briggle and her family, including her trans son. [27], Paxton took office on January 5, 2015. 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. Paxton says the required reductions would cost the state jobs, push electricity costs too high, and threaten reliability on the electrical grid. Along with Texas, twenty other states have joined the lawsuit. [116], Paxton's voter fraud investigation unit had a budget of $1.9 million to $2.2 million in 2021. His 2004 parole expired in June 2020. 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. 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