The attorney general’s long-simmering securities fraud case appears closer to resolution, while the FBI has probed the same allegations that played a major role in his impeachment.
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After a 10-day, trial Texas senators decided on Saturday that Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, is not guilty of bribery, and corruption. This means he can go back to his job as the state’s top lawyer.”
But Paxton’s legal troubles are not over.
He’s still dealing with state securities fraud charges, a case that has been going on for eight years and is still ongoing. It all started with an indictment just a few months after he became the office in 2015. The case has been dragged out for years due to disagreements before the trial even started – including a back-and-forth argument about where the trial should take place. Eventually, it was moved from Collin County to Houston, which is where Paxton used to work as a state lawmaker.
Just wanted to give you a quick update on Paxton. So, the FBI has been looking into Paxton since October 2020, but they haven’t actually charged him with anything yet. They’re just investigating, you know? So, nothing to worry about for now. Just thought you should know. Take care!
Federal investigators started looking into Attorney General Paxton after some of his top deputies went to the FBI and said that he might have done some bad stuff, like taking bribes, to help his friend Nate Paul, who is a real estate developer in Austin. In February, the Justice Department took over the case because they usually handle important corruption cases.
According to legal experts and former prosecutors, the outcome of the impeachment is unlikely to change what happens with Paxton’s securities fraud case. However, it may help the FBI in their investigation. The testimony given during the impeachment hearings could assist federal officials in understanding the strengths and weaknesses of their case.
In the state case, Paxton faces two counts of securities fraud, a first-degree felony that carries a punishment of up to 99 years in prison, stemming from his 2011 efforts to solicit investors in Servergy Inc. without disclosing that the McKinney tech company was paying him to promote its stock. Paxton also faces one count of failing to register with state securities regulators, a third-degree felony with a maximum punishment of 10 years in prison.
In a friendly tone speaking to reporters after the Senate vote on Saturday, Paxton attorney Dan Cogdell expressed his desire for the securities fraud case, to be dismissed. He referred to both the case and the impeachment trial as B.S.
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“That case, just like this one, should have never been brought,” he said with a friendly tone. “They should dismiss it. And if they don’t, we’ll give it our best shot and beat them there, just like we did here.”
According to Sandra Guerra Thompson a former prosecutor from New York City who now teaches criminal law at the University of Houston Law Center it’s likely that Paxton’s win in the impeachment trial means his state criminal case will keep going as planned. So, it seems like things will continue moving forward for Paxton in his legal situation.
She said that both the person facing charges, and the prosecutors have reasons to either slow down or speed up the case. It’s tricky for a public official, to have such charges because even if they are reduced to lesser crimes, they still involve unethical behavior”. This is a problem.
She said that both the person facing charges, and the prosecutors have reasons to either slow down or speed up the case. It’s tricky for a public official, to have such charges, because even if they are reduced to lesser crimes they still involve unethical behavior”. This is a problem.
Last month in a Houston courtroom, a new judge was assigned to the case. The defense lawyers and prosecutors agreed to meet again on October 6th to discuss any remaining issues and decide on a date for the trial.Friendly Tone: Hey there! So, last month in a Houston courtroom, they brought in a new judge for the case. The defense lawyers and prosecutors all agreed to meet up again on October 6th. They’re going to go over any last things they need to deal with and figure out when the trial will happen.
“Afterward, special prosecutor Brian Wice shared with reporters that there comes a time when things must come to an end. He believes that today marks the beginning of a long journey towards achieving justice. It’s like taking the first step on a thousand-mile journey. Our ultimate goal is to ensure that justice prevails in the end.”
Susan Klein a former federal prosecutor, with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and now a law, professor at the University of Texas School of Law does not think the impeachment trial will affect the state criminal case.
“I personally don’t see how this impeachment will have any impact on the ongoing criminal cases. To be honest, he’s not testifying in the impeachment which seems like a smart move, she casually remarked.
Regardless of the impeachment outcome she mentioned that if Paxton can prolong the state criminal case it might work in his favor. She believes that this could allow him to argue that his right to a speedy trial was violated.
“You know, it’s interesting how the legal system works. According to the statute of limitations, trials can’t happen 10 or 12 years after an event,” she explained. “It’s all because witnesses tend to forget things over time, and of course, the defendant has a right to a fair trial.”
In the federal case the FBI closely monitored the testimony at the state Capitol as the House impeachment managers brought forward several witnesses including former Paxton deputies turned whistleblowers. This information was shared by Michael Bromwich a senior counsel at the Washington, D.C. based Steptoe law firm and a former Justice Department inspector general.
Bromwich, the experienced attorney who represented former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe during the Trump Russia investigation and Christine Blasey Ford, the California professor who bravely came forward with allegations against Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, is now involved in the case against Paxton. As a mature man you may be interested to know that Bromwich has mentioned that the FBI and Justice Department have gathered evidence against Paxton, but the specifics remain unknown. However the evidence presented in the impeachment trial could potentially strengthen their case. Stay tuned for further developments!
“It’s also a great chance to assess potential witnesses,” he added with a friendly tone. “This trial has allowed us to observe firsthand how some of our key witnesses deliver their testimonies. We can gauge their credibility and whether they appear biased or prejudiced against Attorney General Paxton.”
“So I think that it could possibly affect how strong they think their criminal case would be,” he said.
Federal prosecutors and a grand jury have heard testimony from witnesses including Drew Wicker who previously served as Paxton’s personal aide. During the impeachment trial Wicker testified that he overheard a conversation between Paxton and a contractor regarding the cost of proposed renovations to Paxton’s home in Austin.
