Whistleblowers In TX AG Paxton Case To Get $6 Million

A judge awarded more than $6 million combined to four whistleblowers in a suit against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton who were fired after they reported him to the FBI. “Because the Office of the Attorney General violated the Texas Whistleblower Act by firing and otherwise retaliating against the plaintiff for in good faith reporting violations of law by Ken Paxton and OAG, the court hereby renders judgment for . plaintiffs,” said Travis County Judge Catherine Mauzy, the Associated Press reports. Mauzy found that the Paxton aides were fired in retaliation for reporting allegations he was using his office to accept bribes from an Austin real estate developer who employed a woman with whom he was having an extramarital affair. Paxton has denied accepting bribes or misusing his office to help Nate Paul, the real estate developer.

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The judgment stated that the employees made their reports to law enforcement “in good faith” and that Paxton’s office did not dispute any claims or damages in the lawsuit. “It should shock all Texans that their chief law enforcement officer, Ken Paxton, admitted to violating the law, but that is exactly what happened in this case,” said Tom Nesbitt, an attorney for Blake Brickman, and TJ Turner, an attorney for David Maxwell. Paxton called the ruling “ridiculous” and “not based on the facts or the law.” His office will appeal. Paxton was at the center of a federal investigation after eight employees reported his office to the FBI in 2020 for bribery allegations. Paxton was impeached in 2023 but acquitted by the Senate. In November, the Texas Supreme Court overturned a lower-court ruling that Paxton testify in the lawsuit. The U.S. Justice Department decided not to pursue its investigation of Paxton in the final weeks of the Biden administration.