Texas investigators detailed on Wednesday to the Republican-led state House their findings from a monthslong investigation into Attorney General Ken Paxton.
Four investigators gave their testimony to the Committee on General Investigating Committee during a hearing on Wednesday as a result of a secret investigation into Paxton over his actions of attempting to get the Texas legislature to use $3.3 million in state funds to settle the claims from former staffers who accused him of corruption in 2020. Paxton has called the testimony “false.”
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Paxton has been accused of multiple crimes, including felonies, such as illegal conduct by abusing his office powers through bribery, improper influence, and creating a culture of fear and retaliation, according to the Associated Press.
In 2020, eight high-ranking officials from Paxton's office accused the attorney general of abusing his position and doing political favors for his friend, real estate investor Nate Paul, who had donated $25,000 to Paxton's campaign in 2018, according to CBS. Paxton agreed to apologize and pay $3.3 million to the whistleblowers in a settlement in February 2023, but he has yet to make any payments.
“It is alarming and very serious having this discussion when millions of taxpayer dollars have been asked to remedy what is alleged to be some wrongs,” committee Chairman Andrew Murr, a Republican, said, per the Texas Tribune.
The revelations came after Paxton demanded on Tuesday the resignation of House Speaker Dade Phelan, accusing Phelan of being intoxicated on the job last week.
A video spread on social media of Phelan slurring his words, leading to Paxton releasing a statement, “Texans were dismayed to witness his performance presiding over the Texas House in a state of apparent debilitating intoxication.”
Paxton is part of an FBI investigation looking into allegations from Paxton’s top deputies of bribery to help a campaign worker who employed a woman he was allegedly having an affair with. The FBI took over the investigation this year from prosecutors with the U.S. attorney’s office that led the inquiry since October 2020.
Paxton was also indicted on felony securities fraud charges in 2015 for driving stock investments without disclosing that he was paid for his acts.
According to the Associated Press, committee members issued a letter to Paxton asking his office to keep documents and communications regarding the whistleblower settlement.
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The committee, which is led by Murr, has yet to announce what actions it will take as a result of the investigation.
The Washington Examiner reached out to Paxton's office for comment.