Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, the Republican candidate in a high-stakes Senate race, encountered scrutiny over his past scandals during a Fox News appearance. Hosted by Bret Baier on Special Report amidst the GOP’s midterm convention in Dallas, Paxton’s legal and political issues took center stage.
State Representative James Talarico, Paxton’s Democratic rival, frequently spotlights these controversies during his campaign stops. Baier pointed out that Talarico often highlights Paxton’s legal troubles, presenting a comprehensive list of issues faced over the years.
Three graphics on the conservative network displayed these issues, which Baier read aloud. Among them: his 2015 securities fraud indictment, later dropped after a pretrial agreement in 2024, allegations of accepting bribes from former staff in 2020, and his 2023 impeachment by the Republican Texas House over misuse of power to aid friends and donors. Paxton has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
Amid a tight race, Paxton’s entanglement in scandals appears to offer Democrats their best chance in decades to win a statewide race in Texas. The Democratic Party needs four seats to regain Senate control, and polling indicates unexpectedly competitive races in Texas and other conservative-leaning regions.
Republicans face a challenging political climate, compounded by the tendency of the ruling party to lose midterm seats and slipping approval ratings for Trump. The Paxton and Talarico campaigns did not respond to Newsweek’s request for comment.
Paxton’s Legal Troubles Unveiled
The segment featured the heading “Paxton Legal Troubles,” detailing:
- 2015 securities fraud indictment, dropped in 2024 following a pretrial agreement.
- 2016 federal fraud charges, dismissed by a judge in 2017.
- 2020 accusations from seven staff members of bribery and power abuse.
- 2023 impeachment by the Texas House, acquitted by the Senate.
- Ordered to pay $6.6 million in 2025 for violating the Texas Whistleblower Act.
During the interview, Baier remarked on the extensive list, prompting Paxton to address voter concerns. Paxton compared his experiences to those of Donald Trump, asserting that political battles often attract legal challenges.
Look at Donald Trump. He had many more indictments than I did. He had two impeachments.
In 2024, a New York jury convicted Trump of falsifying business records, tied to payments to Michael Cohen for a hush-money disbursement to Stormy Daniels. Paxton noted the similarities between his and Trump’s experiences, emphasizing the eventual dismissal or unresolved status of the charges he faced.
Trump encountered four criminal cases, including election interference and mishandling classified documents, with several dismissed, resolved, or pending. The U.S. House impeached Trump twice, but the Senate acquitted him both times. Despite his legal troubles, Trump secured a second presidential term in 2024.